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†. Gen 12:10 . .There was a famine in the land, and Abram went
down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the
land.
Famines were usually the result of things like low humidity, lack of rain,
and/or plagues of insects and plant diseases.
Abram fully intended to return to Canaan just as soon as the famine ended.
The move to Egypt was a temporary expedient, rather than the result of
irrational panic. Famine might seem to some as an excuse for Abram to
return to Haran. But Abram wasn't retreating. His destiny did not lie in
Haran. It lay in Palestine-- period! --no going back.
I've heard more than one commentator say that Abram was out of God's will
when he left Canaan and moved to Egypt. It is really impossible to know
that for sure. Compare Gen 46:2-4 where God instructed Jacob to migrate to
Egypt during a severe famine.
So, I'm inclined to give Abram the benefit of the doubt. Back at Shechem,
Abram began the practice of erecting altars and calling on grandpa Noah's
god. Each time he moved, he built a new altar. And each time he did that,
God gave him new travel orders. Since the text doesn't suggest otherwise; it
should be okay to assume Abram went down to Egypt under the very same
divine guidance as the other places he moved to.
†. Gen 12:11 . . As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife
Sarai: I know what a beautiful woman you are.
Abram was about nine years older than Sarai; so she was over 66 years-old
when this event occurred because according to Gen 12:4, Abram was
seventy-five when they left Haran. Sarai was amazing. Even at 66+ years
she drew admiring glances.
Abram's acknowledgement of Sarai's beauty appears to have been
somewhat out of the ordinary; but that's no surprise. After a number of
years of marriage, it isn't uncommon for men to take their wives for
granted; and to stop taking notice of them after a while.
†. Gen 12:12 . . If the Egyptians see you, and think "She is his wife"
they will kill me and let you live.
Egypt had an active presence up in and around Canaan prior to Abram's day
and perhaps the conduct of their frontier consulates was somewhat less than
honorable at times. So of course the people of Canaan would quite naturally
assume all Egyptians were pigs just like many people today assume that all
Muslims are vicious because of the Muslim terrorists who flew airplanes into
the World Trade Center.
†. Gen 12:13 . . I beseech you; say that you are my sister, that it
may go well with me because of you, and that I may remain alive
thanks to you.
Abram didn't have to entreat Sarai to go along with his scheme. According to
Gen 18:12 and 1Pet 3:6, she regarded her husband's position above her
own.
This scene is useful for exemplifying the gracious nature of this amazing
man of God. Though he was a king in his own home, Abram wasn't a callous
despot like Kim Jong Un and/or Robert Mugabe who care little for either the
feelings or the welfare of their citizens.
Abram was shrewd. He was not only concerned about saving his skin, but
also about taking advantage of his being Sarai's kin; and actually that part
of it did work out pretty well. However, I would have to scold him on this
point because his conduct reveals a lack of confidence in God's promises
back in Gen 12:2-3 and Gen 12:7.
He has to be kept alive to engender heirs so God can make good on His
promise to give them the land of Canaan. No one could kill Abram at this
point; not even a Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Not even The Almighty God
Himself could kill Abram at this point because it was too late for that.
God passed His word back at Shechem that he would make of Abram a great
nation and He can't go back on it without seriously compromising His own
integrity. Some people might be inclined to call that a character weakness;
but to those of us relying upon God to honor His word, His integrity is the
very basis of our confidence. God's promises-- especially His unconditional
promises --are not only human-proof; but God-proof too.
not only human-proof; but God-proof too.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†. Gen 12:10 . .There was a famine in the land, and Abram went
down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the
land.
Famines were usually the result of things like low humidity, lack of rain,
and/or plagues of insects and plant diseases.
Abram fully intended to return to Canaan just as soon as the famine ended.
The move to Egypt was a temporary expedient, rather than the result of
irrational panic. Famine might seem to some as an excuse for Abram to
return to Haran. But Abram wasn't retreating. His destiny did not lie in
Haran. It lay in Palestine-- period! --no going back.
I've heard more than one commentator say that Abram was out of God's will
when he left Canaan and moved to Egypt. It is really impossible to know
that for sure. Compare Gen 46:2-4 where God instructed Jacob to migrate to
Egypt during a severe famine.
So, I'm inclined to give Abram the benefit of the doubt. Back at Shechem,
Abram began the practice of erecting altars and calling on grandpa Noah's
god. Each time he moved, he built a new altar. And each time he did that,
God gave him new travel orders. Since the text doesn't suggest otherwise; it
should be okay to assume Abram went down to Egypt under the very same
divine guidance as the other places he moved to.
†. Gen 12:11 . . As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife
Sarai: I know what a beautiful woman you are.
Abram was about nine years older than Sarai; so she was over 66 years-old
when this event occurred because according to Gen 12:4, Abram was
seventy-five when they left Haran. Sarai was amazing. Even at 66+ years
she drew admiring glances.
Abram's acknowledgement of Sarai's beauty appears to have been
somewhat out of the ordinary; but that's no surprise. After a number of
years of marriage, it isn't uncommon for men to take their wives for
granted; and to stop taking notice of them after a while.
†. Gen 12:12 . . If the Egyptians see you, and think "She is his wife"
they will kill me and let you live.
Egypt had an active presence up in and around Canaan prior to Abram's day
and perhaps the conduct of their frontier consulates was somewhat less than
honorable at times. So of course the people of Canaan would quite naturally
assume all Egyptians were pigs just like many people today assume that all
Muslims are vicious because of the Muslim terrorists who flew airplanes into
the World Trade Center.
†. Gen 12:13 . . I beseech you; say that you are my sister, that it
may go well with me because of you, and that I may remain alive
thanks to you.
Abram didn't have to entreat Sarai to go along with his scheme. According to
Gen 18:12 and 1Pet 3:6, she regarded her husband's position above her
own.
This scene is useful for exemplifying the gracious nature of this amazing
man of God. Though he was a king in his own home, Abram wasn't a callous
despot like Kim Jong Un and/or Robert Mugabe who care little for either the
feelings or the welfare of their citizens.
Abram was shrewd. He was not only concerned about saving his skin, but
also about taking advantage of his being Sarai's kin; and actually that part
of it did work out pretty well. However, I would have to scold him on this
point because his conduct reveals a lack of confidence in God's promises
back in Gen 12:2-3 and Gen 12:7.
He has to be kept alive to engender heirs so God can make good on His
promise to give them the land of Canaan. No one could kill Abram at this
point; not even a Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Not even The Almighty God
Himself could kill Abram at this point because it was too late for that.
God passed His word back at Shechem that he would make of Abram a great
nation and He can't go back on it without seriously compromising His own
integrity. Some people might be inclined to call that a character weakness;
but to those of us relying upon God to honor His word, His integrity is the
very basis of our confidence. God's promises-- especially His unconditional
promises --are not only human-proof; but God-proof too.
not only human-proof; but God-proof too.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=