Genesis 12
Scripture
Genesis 12:12
When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.
Observation - What does it say?
Abraham just heard God make him promises to make him into a great nation and bless all the people’s of the earth through him. Then, on another occasion, the LORD appeared to Abraham and spoke to him. Pause and think about that! What did Abraham’s eyes see in that moment? What did God look like? How did his voice sound as he spoke? Few people can say they experienced God like Abraham did. Yet, right after these amazing God-encounters and promises, Abraham seems to be without faith!
Rather than trusting in God to bring them to pass, Abraham felt the need to take things into his own hands.
Understanding - What does it mean?
Luke 1:37 “For no word from God will ever fail.”
I believe that until God fulfilled his promises to him, Abraham was invincible. God knew the people Abraham would encounter and he still made those promises to him. There was no reason to fear. (Of course that’s often easier said than done!) Furthermore, there was no reason to lie or be deceitful.
Yet, Abraham felt the need to take matters into his own hands and not only live a lie himself but ask his wife to join in. Later he took matters into his own hands again, sleeping with Sarai’s maidservant Hagar, in effort to have a son when Sarai was unable to conceive.
However, in both instances, God showed he didn’t need Abraham’s help to bring about his promises. Even when the Egyptians discovered the truth, God gave Abraham favor with them so that he and Sarai were sent away unharmed. And later, God enabled Sarai to conceive Isaac, through whom the promise would be fulfilled.
God will never put us in a position where we will have to lie or be deceitful in order to experience the life and blessings he intends for us.
Life Application
Trust God’s plan regardless of present circumstances.
Trust that God’s plan succeeding will never require me to lie or deceive.