Jun 19
2
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 12:10-20
“Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, ‘I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.’ When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels. But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. So Pharaoh called Abram and said, ‘What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.’ And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.” (Genesis 12:10–20, ESV)
New Testament Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-13
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:1–13, ESV)
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Introduction
If we are to fully appreciate the passage that is before us today — the one which describes the journey of Abram and Sarai down into Egypt and then back again — it is important that we compare it with what has come before and what will come after in the narrative of Genesis, and the rest of scripture.
Concerning the things that will come later in the narrative of Genesis and the rest of scripture, notice that this episode about Abrama nd Sarai is typical. By that I mean, what Abram and Sarai experience and do in this narrative will be experienced and done by others in future generations, ultimately on a much greater scale, and even by the Christ.
Here in Genesis 12:1-20 we learn that a famine drove Abram and Sarai down into Egypt. There they stayed for a time. There they were threatened. There God was faithful to preserve them. And from there God brought them back into the land of promise more prosperous than they were before. God was faithful to preserve them.
And the very same thing would be experienced by Abram’s descendents. In the days of Jacob and Joseph, Abram’s descendents would be driven by famine to go down into Egypt. There they would stay for a long time. There they would be severely threatened. God would be faithful preserve them. And from there God would bring them back into the land of promise much more numerous and prosperous than before. Of course I am here referring to the Exodus of Israel from Egypt in the days of Moses. The journey of Abram and Sarai down into Egypt and back again was typical.
It is also worth noting that the Christ himself would experience something similar. In Matthew 2:13 we read that, “when they [the wise men] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child [that is, baby Jesus] and his mother [Mary], and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son’” (Matthew 2:13–15, ESV).
The experience of Abram and Sarai was typical. It established a pattern that would be repeated throughout the history of redemption. Therefore, the event had a prophetic quality about it. And the message for future generations was clear — God is able to keep his promises. He is able to preserve his people as they sojourn in foreign places. He is the sovereign king, not only over Abram and Israel, but over all the nations of the earth. Surely he would be faithful to bring about the promises he made to Abram at the start.
More comparisons could be made between this text and future happenings in the history of redemption, but we also need to compare this text with what has come before it.
We must remember that promises were just made by God to Abram. The LORD spoke to Abram saying, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:1–3, ESV). And after Abram was obedient to leave his fathers land and to sojourn down into Canan the LORD reiterated these promises. “The LORD appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him” (Genesis 12:7, ESV).
Everything that we encounter in this passage — the one about the journey of Abram and Sarai down into Egypt and back again — must be considered against the backdrop of the call of God and the promises of God given to Abram. When we approach the passage in this way it becomes clear that although Abram initially responded in faith and obedience to the call and promises of God, he soon floundered. When things got difficult — when the heat was turned up — he began to stumble. He took matters into his own hands. Instead of trusting in God to fulfill his promises — instead of walking by faith and in simple obedience to the commands of scripture — he began to live according to his own wisdom and power.
I’m sure that you can already see that there is a lesson here for us. God has called us to himself through faith in Christ Jesus by his word and Spirit. He has given us his promises. We know his word, and we have been called to live in faith and obedience to him in all things. But as you know from experience, life is accentuated by trials and tribulations. It is during these difficult times that the people of God are often tempted to doubt the promises of God and to live, not by faith and in simple obedience to him, but according to our own wisdom. Brothers and sisters, may it never be. May we imitate the faith of Abram, and learn also from his floundering so that we might flee from it.
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Famine In The Land
After being told of Abram’s faith and obedience in verse 4-9, in verse 10 we read, “Now there was a famine in the land” (Genesis 12:10, ESV).
This declaration concerning a famine in the land is intended to suprise the reader. God had just promised to bless Abram and to give him this land. And the reader probably assumed that God would always bless Abram — that life would be always easy for him — and that he would immediately fulfill his promises to him concerning the possession of the land. But the words, “now there was a famine in the land” make it clear that this is not so. Though Abram was ultimately blessed of God, that did not mean he would be spared from the trials and tribulations of this life. And though Abram would ultimately inherit the land, that did not mean he would inherit it immediately.
Again, the experience of Abram is typical for all of God’s people who live in this world. Those who belong to God through faith in Christ are truly blessed, but this does not mean that they will be without trials and tribulations. Those who belong to God through faith in Christ are heirs with him — they have, by virtue of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, already come to possess the new heavens and new earth in him — but it is not yet theirs in experience.
The scriptures speak plainly concerning the difficulties that those who are blessed in Christ Jesus will experience in this world.
Jesus himself spoke to his disciples saying, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, ESV).
In Acts 14:21 we read, “When they [Paul and Barnabus] had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed” (Acts 14:21–23, ESV).
Brothers and sisters, we should not be surprised when we read that there was a famine in the land immediately after it was promised to Abram, and neither should we be surprised when trials and tribulations come upon us. This is what Peter explicitly says in 1 Peter 4:12: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12–13, ESV).
It should be remembered that Christ himself, who was blessed of God more than any other, suffered in this world. The same may be said of his Apostles. To be blessed of God, and to be an heir of the new heavens and earth in Christ Jesus, does not guarantee a life without tribulations. Far from it. Trials and tribulations are permitted in this life so that we might be tested and purified through them. It is God’s way.
Listen again to Peter’s words: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:3–7, ESV).
Abram had been called by God. He had received the promises of God concerning the new heavens and new earth. He had responded in faith and obedience initially. And then his faith was tested — there was a famine in the land that God had promised to him not long before.
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The Faithlessness of Abram
In verses 10 through 13 we discover that Abram, instead of walking by faith has he had done before, was, in this instance, found to be faithless. Instead of believing upon thee promises of God, his faith floundered.
Verse 10: “Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, ‘I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake’” (Genesis 12:10–13, ESV).
I’m not sure if we should criticize Abram for going down to Egypt to sojourn there. Perhaps he planned to go down trusting that the Lord world also provide an opportunity for him to return to the land that had been promised to him. But on the other hand, it is a bit unsettling to learn that Abram was willing to so quickly leave the land promised to him and to sojourn in Egypt as a foreigner. All things considered, it does seem as if Abram was loosing sight of the promises of God. It seems as if he was beginning to compromise.
What I am sure of is that Abram displayed a lack of faith by telling a half truth, which is in fact a lie, concerning his relationship to Sarai, who was his wife and his half sister (see Genesis 20:12).
Abram was afraid that because his wife was very beautiful the Egyptians would kill him in order to take her as one of their wives. Brothers and sisters, it is never good to live your life being driven by fear. Fear and faith cannot coexist. We should walk by faith, and not by fear. But Abram was afraid, and his faith was weak. Being driven by fear Abram concocted a plan to tell the Egyptians that Sarai was his sister, and not his wife. Again, according to Genesis 20:12, this was a half truth, for Sarai was his half sisters. But it was also a lie, for she was in fact his wife.
Now, there was probably a method to Abram’s madness. In that culture brothers had a lot power. They were the ones to give their sisters away in marriage, especially if the parents were no longer around. And perhaps Abram reasoned that if Sarai was to be noticed and pursued, he, as her brother, would be able to delay, stonewall, and even refuse to give her up, and in so doing both he and she would be protected from harm. He probably even reasoned to himself that in this way he would be helping the plan of God along. After all, what good would the promises of God be concerning a great nation being produced through him if he was dead! It is strange how can we can sometimes reason within ourselves to justify our sin and rebellion against God. What Abram probably didn’t expect is that Sarai would be noticed by Pharaoh himself. And in that case, it doesn’t matter what the brother says, does it. The Pharaoh will get his way. And that is what happened. Sarai was noticed by Pharaoh, and she was taken into the his harem.
Brothers and sisters, not only is foolish to make decisions being driven by fear, it also also foolish to make decisions according to human wisdom and cunning. There is a wisdom from above that is to be pursued, but their is also a wisdom from below. And certainly any course of action that involves transgressing the law of God is foolish, and it is to be avoided. If Abram were walking by faith and not by sight he would have refused to lie — he would have gone on in faith, living in perpetual obedience to God in all things. But instead he decided to take matters into his own hands, to act, not according to the law of God, but according to the ways of the world. And as you can see, things didn’t turn out so well. Friends, they never do when we abandon God and go the way of the world. We might seem to proper for a time, but the wages of sin is always death.
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The Faithfulness of God
Lastly, notice that though Abram was faithless, God was still faithful to keep his promises.
In verse 16 we read, “And for her sake he [the Pharaoh] dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels. But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. So Pharaoh called Abram and said, ‘What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.’ And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had” (Genesis 12:16–20, ESV).
Notice a few things:
One, notice that ironically the Egyptians are portrayed as having more integrity than Abram in this situation. Pharaoh, having been afflicted by God, was upset with Abram that he would lie and put him in this position.
Two, notice that Abram was blessed by God despite his faithlessness. The Pharaoh “dealt well with Abram.” He made Abram to proper for Sarai’s sake. And the Pharaoh sent Abram away a much more wealthy man than when he came into Egypt. Just as Israel would plunder the Egyptians at the time of the Exodus, so too Abram plundered the Egyptians despite his faithlessness.
Three, notice that Egyptians were cursed.
Does this not further prove what was said before concerning the promises made to Abram in 12:1-3. Clearly, they were promises, and not stipulations. Clearly they were gospel, and not law. If the words spoken to Abram were stipulations and laws which required Abram’s obedience to secure the blessing, then the blessing would have been forfeited not long after it was offered! But here we see that Abram was blessed despite his shortcomings. This is by the grace of God alone. These blessing came to Abram, and the curses came upon the Egyptians, not because of the faith and obedience of Abram, but in spite of his faithlessness. Friends, God is faithful to fulfill his promises, even when we are faithless. “If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:1–13, ESV).
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Application
As we move now towards the conclusion I would like to suggest some application.
One, I ask you, what is your “famine”? And by that I mean, where is the Lord testing the genuineness of your faith? What trial or tribulation are you facing that the Lord is using to refine your faith? In what way are you being tempted to doubt the promises of God that are ours in Christ Jesus and to live, not in obedience to God, but according to the wisdom of the world? If you took the time to think about it, I’m sure you could identify something. The evil one is always at work to temp us to abandon our “sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3, ESV). What is it for you? In what way are your being tempted to dismiss God’s word and to go your own way.
Two, and having identified your “famine”, I ask you, will you continue on in faith and obedience, or will you abandon the way of Christ to live according to human wisdom and cunning?
The way forward should always involve faith in Christ and a simple obedience to his commandments. Why we make life more difficult than it needs to be, I’m not entirely sure. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3, ESV). But how easy it is for us to compromise. How easy it is to take what seems to be the easy way. How easy it is believe the lies of the evil when he says, “do you really expect to prosper in the world by keeping the commandments of God?” “If you would only… then you would be respected.” “If you would only… then you would be prosperous.” “If you would only… then you would be happy.”
The ways in which we are tempted to compromise are too numerous to list. “If only you would tell this lie… if only you would use foul language… if only you would gossip like the rest of them… if only you would employ manipulative tactics… if only you would steal… if only you would join yourself to this person… etc. There are so many ways that the Christian is tempted to abandon their simple and sincere devotion to Christ to go the way of the world.
Brethren, rarely do Christians apostatize from the faith all at once. More often than not the road to the denial of Christ is a long road, the journey consisting of many little steps and little compromising decisions. We reason within ourselves and we justify our actions saying, is it really so bad that I grow emotionally attached to this man who is not my husband, our this woman who is not my wife? Is drinking to the point of drunkenness really so bad? Is it really such a problem that I self protect within the marriage, refusing to submit and to love as the scriptures have called me to?
On and on I could go. I am urging you, brothers and sisters, to ask the question, where is my faith in Christ being tested? In what ways I being tempted to live to according to worldly and sinful stanards instead of by faith and in simple obedience to the commands of Christ? Christians should have a “sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3, ESV), and it is this that we are so often tempted to abandon.
Three, I have noticed that many are tempted to compromise in their personal lives, but I have also noticed that many are tempted to compromise in the public worship of God. The scriptures are clear, brothers and sisters, that we are to honor the Lord’s Day Sabbath and to keep it holy. It is to be a day set apart as distinct. It is to be a day where we cease from our worldly recreations and employments. It is a day for assembling with the people of God to ingage in the public worship of God. The scriptures are clear concerning these things. The law of God says, honor the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. And the New Testament scriptures warn us, saying, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24–25, ESV). If you have not yet been convinced that the 4th commandment still applies to us today, I would be happy to demonstrate this to you from the scriptures. But assuming that it is true, my exhortation to you is to not compromise. Do not go the way of the world. Do not neglect the assembly of the saints and the public worship of God.
Friends, may we imitate the faith of Abram of Genesis 12:1-9, but may we refuse to compromise as Abram did in Genesis 12:10-20. But may we also remember and take comfort in the fact that “if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:1–13, ESV).
