Fearful Deception

Genesis 12:10-20 

10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. 12 Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.”

14 So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful. 15 The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

17 But 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 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’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.” 20 So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had.

When the famine in the land promised to Abram worsened, he continued the journey south, all the way to Egypt.  But as they entered that land, Abram lost trust in God to keep his beautiful wife Sarai safe.  He imagined that someone would take his wife and kill him to have her, so he told her to say she was his sister (which was half of the truth as Genesis 20:12 explains).  He put his trust in his own schemes instead of God’s sovereign hand.  However, the ruler of Egypt himself fell for her when pointed out by the princes, and they took her to the Pharaoh to live with him.  What did Abram get out of the deal?  Prosperity.  But God made Pharaoh suffer for almost taking another man’s wife as his own, and he found out the ruse of lies and let them go.  They left with all that he had been given - animals and servants.  Abram began to get rich off this deception out of fear to save himself.  Such fearful deception may yield the results we desire, but miss the mark on God’s desire for our reliance of faith in trusting His protection and grace.  We can learn from Abram’s negative example to do what pleases God instead of deceiving others because we feel we must protect ourselves.  Selah.