SCRIPTURE
Genesis 12:10 And because there was little food to be had in that land, he went down into Egypt. 11 Now when he came near to Egypt, he said to Sarai, his wife, Truly, you are a fair woman and beautiful to the eye; 12 And I am certain that when the men of Egypt see you, they will say, This is his wife: and they will put me to death and keep you. 13 Say, then, that you are my sister, and so it will be well with me because of you, and my life will be kept safe on your account.14 And so it was that when Abram came into Egypt, the men of Egypt, looking on the woman, saw that she was fair. 15 And Pharaoh's great men, having seen her, said words in praise of her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into Pharaoh's house. 16 And because of her, he was good to Abram, and he had sheep and oxen and asses, and men-servants and women-servants, and camels.
17 And the Lord sent great troubles on Pharaoh's house because of Sarai, Abram's wife. 18 Then Pharaoh sent for Abram, and said, What have you done to me? why did you not say that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say that she was your sister? so that I took her for my wife: now, take your wife and go on your way. 20 And Pharaoh gave orders to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and all he had.
Genesis 13:1 And Abram went up out of Egypt with his wife and all he had, and Lot with him, and they came in to the South. 2 Now Abram had great wealth of cattle and silver and gold. 3 And traveling on from the South, he came to Beth-el, to the place where his tent had been before, between Beth-el and Ai; 4 To the place where he had made his first altar, and there Abram gave worship to the name of the Lord.
OBSERVATION
Question: Was Abraham in God’s will when he left Canaan and went to Egypt?
God had just sent him to Canaan and showed him the land that Israel was going to be given and then it looks like in Genesis 12:8-9 that he just kept right on going beyond the area that God was going to give to his people. It looks like Abram wasn’t too excited about the land that God picked out.
Sure there was a famine but God had already promised to prosper Abram but he sought refuge from the famine by going to Egypt, a place that would continue to be a draw for Israel; I think that Egypt must have been an awesome country with a lot of worldly appeal.
It seems to me that Abram wasn’t living for God right now. I think that he is in a place that he isn’t supposed to be and he begins living a life that he isn’t supposed to live, perhaps he thought that a little lie away from home wouldn't be a big deal. He starts off a new life with a lie that Sarah isn’t his wife; if you are telling lies to protect yourself then look around and see where you went wrong because you are probably not where God wants you to be.
God sent trouble to Pharaoh and caused Abram to be sent packing, just like his grandchildren are going to be pushed out after the 400 years of bondage. Now Abram is on track as he returns to the place where he worshiped God at Bethel. God has a way of “encouraging” his children back to Bethel.
APPLICATION
The Lord is good to his children and even in discipline he is looking out for their own good and is longing to bring us back to a relationship with him.
PRAYER
I want to always stay close to you father and do what is pleasing to you, help me to rely on you when there is a “famine in the land.”
Just a thot’: God sent trouble to Pharaoh but how did he know that it was caused by Abram’s lie? We can bring trouble on others by our disobedience to God.
