Genesis 12:10-16 New International Version
Abram in Egypt 10 Now 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. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” 14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
Thursday - July 8
Abram seems to have lost all that amazing faith already! God’s promise is being attacked in two directions. A famine attacks God’s promise of land and the threat of powerful men in Egypt threatens Abram’s family (heir). Instead of going to God and clinging to God’s promise Abram takes matters into his own hands. He moves his family to Egypt and schemes to actually benefit from lying about his wife. By claiming she is his sister he can negotiate a dowry from anyone who might want her for a wife. In this way, Abram becomes quite wealthy! To be fair, God did not say that his wife, Sarai, would be the mother of his heir or when Abram’s family would get the land of Canaan as their own possession. But in his uncertainty and doubt Abram shows that he is willing to sacrifice his wife! Like Abram, we often sacrifice the people in our lives for the sake of our own desires, dreams, and success.