A Spiritual Panic Attack Series

Ge 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite [was] then in the land.

Ge 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Ge 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, [having] Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

Ge 12:9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

Abraham departed as the Lord had spoken to him, in that season of obedience, God speaks to him, and appears to him, and Abraham is building altars everywhere he goes, altars of communion, dedication, intimacy, and sacrifice to the Lord. Abraham is growing in grace

But then something happened.

PPT 9 Text

Ge 12:10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine [was] grievous in the land.

Abraham had flocks and herds that needed food and water, and he had a choice. He could stay where he was supposed to, or he could run in fear.

If you read verse 10 all by itself you would think the writer was simply explaining why Abraham did what he did, and that it made perfect sense in light of his circumstances, there was a famine so he went down to Egypt where the famine wasn't as severe. But the writer of Genesis was Moses, and Moses was well acquainted with one fact of life about God's people, when people shrink back in faith, sin is sure to follow. As we read the narrative of Abraham's life, Moses by the leading of the Holy Spirit points out that as soon as Abraham left the promised land, because it was difficult to stay there sin followed that decision closely on its heels.

You will note, nothing is said about Abraham praying, or going to the altar or seeking God about the trip to Egypt, he simply looked at circumstances and headed out to Egypt, and the proof that he is doing this in error is found in the very next verse

PPT 10 text

Ge 12:11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou [art] a fair woman to look upon:

Ge 12:12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This [is] his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

Ge 12:13 Say, I pray thee, thou [art] my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

The first thing he did in Egypt is lie.

When we forsake the will of God, we also end up forfeiting our assurance and trust that God will be with us.

1. Up until this point in his life, Abram was not afraid of the inhabitants of the land. Sarah his wife didn't all of a sudden get pretty, she was pretty in the Promised Land, where all those godless Caananites were, but Abraham wasn't afraid of them because he was trusting God.

As soon as you start down the path of fear, 10 more fears will come after you, the word will spread in hell that you are susceptible to caving in to fear.