Christ sent His Apostles to preach The Gospel to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and then to the Gentiles. If you can receive it, follow this Beth-el subject up with study in...

 Amos 5, (Strong’s 4432,MOLEK the chief deity (religion) of the Ammonites; Strong’s 4445 Milcom, the national idol of the Ammonites.)

 

 A very important Chapter for our times.
     So Beth-el has much significance to those in Christ today, and to any Church which calls itself a 'House of God', as the 'inheritance' God promised to Abraham's seed works both ways. Believers in Christ receive the inheritance only 'if' we accept The Father through The Son Jesus Christ, and none other, and keep to His Word. Then the Vineyard (Body of Christ) must be properly cared for by present 'husbandmen' until our Lord returns. Now back to Genesis 12...

Gen 12:9    And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
10    And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
11    And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, "Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:"
12    Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, 'This is his wife:' and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
13    Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee."

     Truly, Sarai was Abram's half-sister, from a different wife of his father Terah (Gen.20:12). This type of marriage was permitted by God at the time, no doubt because of the lack of choices to keep the lineage of Christ pure, and the giving of The Law had not been official through the mediator Moses yet.
     Now God had already promised to Abram that his seed would inherit the land of Canaan, and from him would come a great nation, yet he and Sarai had no child, and were getting up there in age. Yet Abram believed God, and no doubt knew Sarai would not fall into danger. Maybe Abram was trying to help God out a little bit here, but more likely was receiving a lure from Satan, for this is an attempt to split the family of Christ, and prevent His future birth.

Gen 12:14     And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
15    The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
16    And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

     Sarai was well up in her years, yet she was very beautiful, and especially so to the Egyptians evidently. Abram certainly got royal treatment, just for being known as Sarai's brother. Our Father probably waited just long enough to get ol' Abram well established, and then:

Gen 12:17    And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
18    And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, "What is this that thou hast done unto me? Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
19    Why saidst thou, 'She is my sister?' so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way."
20    And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

     I suspect that through God's Hand, Pharaoh discovered the plagues were because of Sarai's protection. This working ensured Sarai would bear the promised Seed, and not some other, as we'll soon discover.
     Abram and his wife left very rich, being blessed by God. So Satan's attempt to drive a wedge