10Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

Reflect on 12:1-3 ~ Abram walks out of God’s blessing.

We see no indication of God telling him to move.If God can be trusted to fulfill these promises, food is a problem? Survival is a problem?But the famine was severe!We will see Abram scheming to provide for himself with no indication of God’s provision.

Note that the intent was to stay temporarily . . .

22“I will make you into a great “I will make you into a great nationnation and I will bless you;and I will bless you; I will make your name great, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.and you will be a blessing. 33I will bless those who bless I will bless those who bless you, you, and whoever curses you I and whoever curses you I will curse;will curse; and all peoples on earth and all peoples on earth will be blessed through will be blessed through you.” you.”

10Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

In Egyptian culture, women had equal economic and legal rights with men. A wife was an equal partner with her husband, a sister was not. Abram would be in a position to negotiate for her hand Her beauty involved economic factors as well.Her childlessness would serve to enhance the deception.She was middle aged. She was a half sister . . .If Abram were gone, many would become suitors, if only for the wealth. Barren wives leave no heirs.

Women in Egypt: Women in Egypt: legal and economic legal and economic

equalityequality

Women in Egypt: Women in Egypt: legal and economic legal and economic

equalityequality

10Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

If Abram dies as a husband, childless Sarai gets everything.

(If Sarai remarries, and then dies, new husbands get all.)

If Abram dies as a brother, sister Sarai gets nothing.The Egyptians must have had a reputation . . .Rather than trusting in God’s promise that ensured his survival, Abram chooses to trust in his ability to scheme.He places his life in Sarai’s hands rather than God’s.

14When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. 15And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.

“praised her” ~ they were wild about her

This is a battle of swindlers, each seeking to gain advantage over the other for financial gain.

They were both greedy, but Abram was the better con.

God’s blessing is in none of this.

Unintended consequence: a temporary stay becomes long-term

Economic gain cannot be used as a standard of evaluating God’s working in one’s life.

17But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

God protects Sarai from Abram’s schemes. (Egyptians had rules about adultery.)

Pharaoh is not guiltless here. Abram had a reason to fear.

We do not know how far Sarai’s “haremization” went . . .

Abram did not lie, but he did deceive.

17But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

God uses Pharaoh’s anger to set Abram back into blessing.Abram and Sarai seem to get away with the swindle.

(Actually they out-swindled Pharaoh, using his own lust against him.)

Can Abram go back to Egypt? What is his reputation?What have Abram’s actions revealed about his character?What have his actions said about God?

17But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

Do not think that either poverty or wealth are spiritual commentaries. (The causes must be known.)

Samson / David: lust finally caught themJudah & Israel: idolatry/lust killed themPharisees: greed & self-righteousness

(Obeying the letter, not the intent)

Samson / David: lust finally caught themJudah & Israel: idolatry/lust killed themPharisees: greed (lust) & self-righteousness Whose do you want: human or divine?

(temporary verses eternal / luck verses grace)

Samson / David: lust finally caught themJudah & Israel: idolatry/lust killed themPharisees: greed (lust) & self-righteousness Whose do you want: human or divine?Blessed are the . . . (Matt. 5:3-10; 28-34)Obedience places us where God’s blessing is.There is no worship in disobedienceThere is no fellowship in disobedienceThe first act of worship is to confess/repent 13:1So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with

his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. 2Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. 3From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD.

Samson / David: lust finally caught themJudah & Israel: idolatry/lust killed themPharisees: greed (lust) & self-righteousness Whose do you want: human or divine?Blessed are the . . . (Matt. 5:3-10; 28-34)Obedience places us where God’s blessing is.There is no worship in disobedience.There is no fellowship in disobedienceThe first act of worship is to confess/repent