Free Bible Commentary
“Genesis 12:10-20”
Categories: Genesis“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. It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, 'See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, “This is his wife”; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.' It came about when Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. Therefore he treated Abram well for her sake; and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels. But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. Then 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.' Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him.”
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“Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there...” (verse 10) Once a person dedicates his life to the Lord and decides to follow Him in obedient faith, difficulties often arise soon afterward. God does not shield his children from troubles, but He does promise to always be with them and carry them through life's “droughts” and “famines” (Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 23:4-6; 34:19-22). We have no indication from the text that God directed Abram to go to Egypt during this great famine that plagued the land of Canaan, so chances are he made this determination for himself. Very little good ever comes from God's children descending into Egypt during times of distress. It started out well for Joseph and his brothers, but soon their descendants were enslaved. God's people were forbidden to return to Egypt during the days of Jeremiah by fear of punishment and death, but they did so anyway. “The Lord has spoken to you, O remnant of Judah, 'Do not go into Egypt!'...clearly understand that you will die by the sword, by famine and by pestilence, in the place where you wish to go to reside.” (Jeremiah 42:19, 22) Of course, they foolishly went anyway! Once you turn your back on the wicked ways of the world to follow the Lord Jesus, never turn back to a life of sin and evil and error. There's nothing waiting for you in spiritual “Egypt” that's worth going back to!
“Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you...” (verse 13) You can truly understand Abram's concern because he knew he was entering into a ruthless, totalitarian, heathen nation as a very vulnerable, total stranger. But, instead of trusting the Lord to deliver him from danger and possible death, he took it upon himself to devise this deceptive plot “when he came near to Egypt” (verse 11). It was deceptive because, while it was technically true that Sarai was Abram's (half) sister, she was still his whole wife! So that made this half-truth a whole lie! And hadn't the Lord recently promised to make a great nation from him, to bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him, and that He would bless the whole world through him (verses 1-3)? Didn't Abram believe God could and would deliver him? How soon and easily we forget the precepts and promises of the Lord when the devil turns up the heat of fear, trial and persecution in our lives!
And just look how selfish this great man's motives were—Please Sarai, put yourself in sin and harm's way “so that it will go well with me”!!! You must admire the Lord and His complete honesty when it comes to His divine revelations about His own, chosen followers, and even a hero like Abraham. God let's us clearly see the weakness and foibles and flat out sinfulness of the people that He loves and claims as His very own. Abraham, the great forefather of our faith, caved into fear and sinfulness and the weakness of the flesh just like we do! The Lord rescued his erring servant during his time of spiritual ineptness, and that gives us hope that He will not turn His back on us when we cave into the pressures and temptations of sin as well! I just pray that doesn't incentivize us to think the wrong ways and do the wrong things!
“Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.” (verse 15) What an amazingly beautiful woman Sarai must have been at the age of 65! Pharaoh “treated Abram well for her sake; and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels.” (verse 16) That is quite a handsome dowry to pay to the brother of a foreign woman by a despot. With such an financial windfall you can almost understand why Abram later pulled this same stunt a second time (Genesis 20:1-18). And Abraham actually allowed his wife to be taken into Pharaoh's harem to save his own skin, and she would have been disgraced had it not been for God's direct intervention! “But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.” (verse 17) God was not about to let His plan to bless the whole world through Christ, the Seed of Abraham and Sarai, go awry just because of one man's fear, foolishness and faithlessness!
“Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, 'What is this you have done to me?'” (verse 18) “This is almost verbatim the same language used by the sailors to Jonah (Jonah 1:10). The mighty patriarch cuts a sorry figure indeed in this. He is rebuked and reprimanded and sent out of the country by the pagan Pharaoh. And to all of this Abram opposed not a single word of defense.” (James Burton Coffman) Somehow Pharaoh knew it was because of Sarai that these unidentified “plagues” had stricken his household, so the Lord must have informed him in some way. He may have possibly divulged this to him in a dream has he would later do with Abimelech in Genesis 20:3. “Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him.” (verse 20) Pharaoh provided a military escort for Abram and his family to prevent something bad from happening to them until they had safely exited his borders, for fear that he receive even more severe punishment by the hand of the Almighty, All-knowing, All-seeing God of heaven.
God knows and sees all that we do! He loves us and He cares for us and He looks out for our best interests! Let's learn from Abraham's foolishness to just trust in the Lord to do the right thing no matter how rough our lives get, and let's purpose in our hearts to always try to do the right things come rain or shine!
Please read Genesis 13:1-7 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
