OT: Genesis. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

This stream's tour starts at the start...shocking I know, but you've got to start somewhere.

Have a read of Genesis 12-14, and then rejoin me. If you're super-keen you could pick up from Gen 11 where Abram first joins the fray through to Gen 25.

So Genesis 12-14 is the first look at this huge character in biblical and global history - the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity & Islam) now account for over 50% (~3.5bn) of the world's population.
My first impressions are varied, but all show to me that Abram is a man after God's own heart, so I want to learn more about how he does it. Here's what I think.

The good: Genesis 13, Abram puts the desires and needs of others first. He lets Lot choose which way he will go when they split up, not to mention chooses a mature response to the dispute threatening to sour the relationship in the first place.
Why does Abram do this? Perhaps he's learnt his lesson from chapter 12; but more important is God's promise - he knows God has his back, and will ensure no harm comes to him.
If only I could always have this faith when making decisions...

The bad: Genesis 12:10-20, Abram (not for the last time in him life - see Gen 20) deceives Pharaoh, forgetting God's promise and pretends his wife is his sister. Of course, these still being the days of semi-incest, she was!
How many times have I forgotten God's promises and tried to do things in my own strength...?

The ugly: Gen 14, Abram stands up for the vulnerable when Lot and his family are caught up in some else's war and taken captive. Not only does he go to their rescue, but he does it for no reward, not seeking his own gain, but instead seeking justice.
Even when I do good and noble things, do I sometimes do them for the wrong reasons? How do I seek the kind of justice God desires?

The answer to that question can be found by reading the Bible...and that's just what I hope you're going to do throughout 2012.
Whether you follow a reading plan, read along with these blogs, or just do your own thing, I pray God will bless you greatly through it, and that you'll grow as you understand more and more of God's big story.