April 6, 2023
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Reading: Genesis 12:10-20
Focus: Genesis 12:11-13 – As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but let you live. Say that you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”
Father, thank You for the blessings we have today. Open our hearts and minds to Your Word. Help us to listen to You. Help us to be light in a dark world and share You with others. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Genesis 12:9 tells us that Abram headed toward the Negev desert. This desert is on that little triangular spit of land between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Some believe that down at the bottom of that little piece of land is Mount Sinai. But we are not going to get into that discussion until later on. Up at the top of that triangle, the land has some vegetation and would be good pastureland for Abram’s flock and herds. It is not said how long he stayed there but he may have pitched his tent for a while. Genesis 12:10 tells us there was a famine where he was living, so he decided to go into Egypt to live because the famine where he was living was severe and apparently Egypt had food. I am wondering why there was a famine. Could God be testing Abram? He had led him to Canaan, then out to the Negev. And now there is a famine.
Have you ever been so afraid that you did the wrong thing and it made it worse? Well, that is just what Abram did. Abram knew how beautiful his wife was and he was afraid that someone might kill him just to take her. So, he told her to say that she was his sister. I don’t know what he was thinking. All he wanted to do was deceive the Egyptians so that they wouldn’t take Sarai. To me, that would make her that much more available. His sister? Good, not married. Not a good idea. I just don’t get Abram at this point. He is following God, who said He would make a great nation of Abram’s descendants. Why didn’t he think that this same God would keep him alive? I don’t think Abram thought this through.
Even in her sixties, Sarai must have still been a very beautiful woman. The Egyptians saw her and told Pharoah and she was taken into the Pharoah’s harem as a wife and Abram was given a lot of livestock and servants for her sake. Again, I wonder at the lack of faith Abram had in God. He apparently believed that God was leading him but did not yet realize that God would protect him and his wife in Egypt, too. Why do we sometimes have faith for the big things and yet, so often, we don’t for the little things?
Well, that half-truth backfired and rather badly too. If she had only been Abram’s sister, he would have had a place of honor if she was taken into Pharoah’s harem. But as her husband, Abram feared the worst. That they would kill him and take her. And there goes the nation. Abram’s faith failed, even after all God had told him and promised him. And now, his little white lie has gone from something small to a huge disaster.
But God wasn’t having any of it, and He protected Sarai while she was in the house of Pharoah. God sent some serious diseases on Pharoah and his household. It is obvious that he never touched her. But somehow, he knew what Abram had done and that he was the cause of his problems. Pharoah called Abram and probably angrily asked him, “What have you done to me?” He asked him point blank, “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?” Abram had to admit his fear to the Pharoah. So, Pharoah gave Sarai back to Abram and kicked him out of Egypt with his wife and all of his possessions.
Genesis 20 tells us that Sarai was actually Abram’s half-sister. Her father was Abram’s father but her mother was a different woman. So, Abram didn’t have Sarai tell a lie, he just had her tell part of the truth. Even telling part of the truth, which could get one out of trouble, is wrong. Abram didn’t have enough faith that God would keep him safe, so he kept the whole truth hidden. Please note that in Leviticus, marriage between close blood relatives is forbidden by God.
The whole event of Sarai’s captivity in and eventual freedom from Pharoah’s harem is a foreshadowing of the captivity and freedom of Abram’s descendants. The diseases sent on Pharoah and his household were another foreshadowing of the plagues that were due to fall on Egypt before the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. Abram was sent away from Egypt with his wife and all the things he had accumulated just as the Hebrews would leave centuries later. God knew Abram’s weakness, his fear. He knew that Abram was afraid for his life and for his wife. Abram took matters into his own hands and lied about Sarai’s status in his household. He did not have the faith that God would protect them, yet. He hadn’t learned yet that God cared about all the things Abram cared about.
This is also a foretelling of Jesus. Shortly after His birth in Bethlehem, Herod commanded that all baby boys, age two and under, were to be slaughtered, in an attempt to kill Jesus. Joseph was warned in a dream to take Mary and the baby Jesus to Egypt until those who wanted to kill Him were dead. Hosea 11:1 says, “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.” And this is not the only prophecy we will see on this. I will discuss them more when we get to those books of the Old Testament.
How often do we tell only part of the truth instead of the whole truth? And why? To get out of trouble. To stay out of trouble. There is no such thing as a ‘little white lie.’ And half the truth to mislead someone is not the truth. It is better not to say anything at all than to tell part of the truth or tell a little white lie so that we don’t hurt someone’s feelings. That is not to say, that it’s ok to hurt someone’s feelings. We must be compassionate and kind with our words. Sometimes it is impossible to say anything that will not hurt someone’s feelings. Especially if the question is “Does this make me look fat?” or any other leading question like that. I know, some questions are totally unanswerable. Right? We, as Christians, have to guard what we say.
How many times are we following God’s leading but don’t think He can handle the little things in our lives. I learned long ago that God, the Father and Jesus, His Son care about the things we care about. When I was 16, I had been to a huge conference in Dallas organized by Campus Crusade for Christ. There were thousands of teenagers learning how to witness about Jesus. I made many new friends from all over the country. I kept a small notebook with the addresses of those new friends. When I got back, I was wanted to write a letter to a couple of them but couldn’t find the notebook. Finally, after many attempts to find it and, as a last resort, I prayed. While I was praying, I was impressed with the desire to clean out a certain drawer in my dresser. Down at the bottom of that drawer I found it. My prayer was tentative. I hadn’t learned yet that God did indeed care about things important to me. I also learned that I shouldn’t go to God as a last resort, but I should have prayer as my first option.
I want you to know that God is interested in all the things that interest His children. There are little hurts, and yes, big hurts that we can go to God with. He cares what matters to us. If we do fail, and take the easy way out, God will forgive that too. You only have to ask. When Jesus was on this earth, He didn’t just heal the big things like leprosy, or blindness. He also healed hearts of the little hurts that no one else sees. He knows our weaknesses. Knows how we will react to situations, even if it is the wrong reaction. But He is there to help us make it right and to bring us out of that captivity. We have only to ask.
He also cares about those who don’t yet know Him. I’m sure you know are aware of the devastating earthquake in Turkey. A friend who is there recently shared something that she had heard from rescuers who are helping pull people from the ruined buildings. They said that children who are being pulled out of the rubble alive are telling their rescuers that a man in a white robe was with them, feeding them and keeping them safe. Not in just one area but all over the earthquake zone. Jesus is there. Can you doubt that God is at work everywhere?
God is wherever we need Him. He cares about all humankind. All the little things and all the big things. Don’t just tell God you have a big problem. Also, tell your problem you have a big God.
Are you still afraid?
Father, thank You that You care about the things that are important to me. Help me to lean more on You than on myself. Help my faith grow stronger every day. Help me to come to You first instead of as a last resort. Go before me and show me Your way. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Food for Thought
- Why do you think Abram was do fearful when entering Egypt?
- Why do you think Abram felt that God might not protect him and Sarai?
- Do you believe that God loves you so much that He is concerned about the things important to you? Why or why not?
- Have you ever prayed about things that you thought God would think insignificant? Why or why not?
- Can you put everything you are, all that you have, in God’s Hands? Why or why not?
