The Passage
Genesis 12:10-20
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. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 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.” 14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
17 But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 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? 19 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.” 20 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.
Word Work
Ask and answer questions. Questions unlock new discoveries and meanings. Ask questions about the passage using these words: who, what, why, when, where, or how. Jot down your answers to these questions
Word Thoughts:
God was with Abram in Egypt. When Abram anticipated trouble in Egypt because of his wife, he planned a deceptive scheme to deal with the situation. Sarai was his half sister, so there was some truth in what Abram said. But he failed to trust in the Lord, and he put his own interests ahead of his wife’s. Abram increased his wealth, but he nearly lost his marriage—and with it the covenant promise of many descendants. In the end, the Lord protected his servant by afflicting Pharaoh’s household. God’s protection, Abram’s despoiling the Egyptians (vv. 16, 20), and Pharaoh’s order to have Abram expelled foreshadow what would happen with the Israelites in Egypt many centuries later (Ex. 3:22; 12:36).
Above all, we are reminded that our foibles and failures, grievous and tragic though they be, do not define our usefulness to God. Indeed, God seems to be specially drawn toward the weak and sinful. For it is precisely such people who are most open to his saving and empowering grace. (1)
Word Reflection:
- What stood out?
- What was Abraham and Sarai’s sin?
- Why did God judge the Egyptians for something that doesn’t seem is their fault?
End in Prayer
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