Have you ever wondered why Christians outside of God's will can sometimes seem so blessed? They don't read the Bible, they don't pray, they don't make any effort to grow closer to the Lord; and yet, their businesses are growing, their bosses are giving them promotions, and their families are happy and healthy. In the meantime, while you are trying to follow the Lord, sometimes you may feel like you are not making any headway. It can be frustrating, can't it? What's the point of following God, when so often the people who don't seem to have the better lives?
Abram probably knew all about that inner struggle. In Genesis 12, before God changed his name to Abraham, there was a famine in the land of Canaan. So, instead of staying in the promised land, Abram went to Egypt with his wife Sarai. While there, he lied about their relationship, telling everyone that Sarai was his sister, and so Pharaoh took Sarai as his wife. And for the sake of Sarai, Pharaoh gave Abram all sorts of gifts - sheep, cattle, camels, servants, etc.
While Abram was most certainly not in the Lord's will, it also seemed like he was being greatly blessed during his time in Egypt. But blessings acquired out of God's will are not blessings at all - they are baggage. Later, in chapter 16, we will see that Abram chooses to have a child through one of his maidservants, Hagar. What many people don't realize, though, is that Hagar was Egyptian, and was almost certainly acquired during Abram and Sarai's time in Egypt in Genesis 12.
So Abram slept with Hagar, they had a child, Ishmael, Ishmael and Hagar were sent away from Abram and Sarai, and they eventually grew into a whole new people group, many of whom comprise the present-day muslim population in the middle east. I don't have to remind you of all the conflicts between Muslims and Jews that have arisen over the years. All because Abram left God's will and went to Egypt. All because he allowed fear to cause him to lie about his relationship with Sarai to Pharaoh. All because he let Pharaoh "bless" him. Baggage, baggage, baggage.
It's easy to think that your obedience to the Lord is not being noticed - or perhaps, that your disobedience will be equally unnoticeable. But our actions have repercussions farrrrrr beyond what we can see with our own eyes. Remember that the next time you are frustrated in your walk with the Lord, and take heart! Don't delude yourself into thinking that the good things that come to you when you ignore the Lord are blessings. In the end, they're just baggage. And they're not worth it.
But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why 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!” Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
Abram probably knew all about that inner struggle. In Genesis 12, before God changed his name to Abraham, there was a famine in the land of Canaan. So, instead of staying in the promised land, Abram went to Egypt with his wife Sarai. While there, he lied about their relationship, telling everyone that Sarai was his sister, and so Pharaoh took Sarai as his wife. And for the sake of Sarai, Pharaoh gave Abram all sorts of gifts - sheep, cattle, camels, servants, etc.
While Abram was most certainly not in the Lord's will, it also seemed like he was being greatly blessed during his time in Egypt. But blessings acquired out of God's will are not blessings at all - they are baggage. Later, in chapter 16, we will see that Abram chooses to have a child through one of his maidservants, Hagar. What many people don't realize, though, is that Hagar was Egyptian, and was almost certainly acquired during Abram and Sarai's time in Egypt in Genesis 12.
So Abram slept with Hagar, they had a child, Ishmael, Ishmael and Hagar were sent away from Abram and Sarai, and they eventually grew into a whole new people group, many of whom comprise the present-day muslim population in the middle east. I don't have to remind you of all the conflicts between Muslims and Jews that have arisen over the years. All because Abram left God's will and went to Egypt. All because he allowed fear to cause him to lie about his relationship with Sarai to Pharaoh. All because he let Pharaoh "bless" him. Baggage, baggage, baggage.
It's easy to think that your obedience to the Lord is not being noticed - or perhaps, that your disobedience will be equally unnoticeable. But our actions have repercussions farrrrrr beyond what we can see with our own eyes. Remember that the next time you are frustrated in your walk with the Lord, and take heart! Don't delude yourself into thinking that the good things that come to you when you ignore the Lord are blessings. In the end, they're just baggage. And they're not worth it.
Genesis 12:10-20
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. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why 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!” Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
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