PART 3 - GENESIS 12:10 - 20 - THIS SERVICE HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. PLEASE TRY ANOTHER NUMBER.
We were standing in line to go into Church. It was a long line and we had to wait for some time for the doors to be opened. Although the auditorium seated 1,500 people, some people would have to come to the next service or sit in a "bad seat". You had to get to Church early to get a "good seat" (3 or 4 rows back from the front right hand side). I often wonder about those who miss out on good seats and whether I really need to find a good seat and then give it to someone else who doesn't have one. Being a Christian brings such conflict when it comes to anything that resembles selfishness.
Anyway, as we stood in line, my wife was ahead of me a couple of spaces and a man had cornered her in conversation. He was a strange character, unshaven and loud and Julie was obviously uncomfortable at the attention he was giving her. She said that he was "chatting her up" at the top of his voice. I didn't think much about it at the time. I just thought he was loud and a little offputting. I thought Julie would come back to me if she needed help.
Just then a young man with 2 young boys intentionally and as unobtrusively as possible stood between my wife and this man with his back to him, and the conversation had to be redirected elsewhere. This young man had obviously noticed my wife's plight and did something about it.
Julie said something to me later that made me realize that I HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE WAY SHE WAS FEELING. She said she had felt insecure and was never quite sure whether I would tune in enough in order to rescue her from situations such as this when needed. DISCONNECTION big time!
Now in Genesis 12 it seems to me that ABRAM DISCONNECTED FROM GOD AND FROM HIS WIFE.
1. ABRAM DISCONNECTED FROM GOD.
God called Abram in Ur. After travelling first to Haran, Abram had already STAYED TOO LONG, probably for the sake of wealth and possessions from his inheritance. Now it seems GOD TESTED HIM again in this very area. It keeps coming around. Years later Jesus spoke to a rich young ruler about his attitude to wealth and whether he was willing to give it up in exchange for following Him. He was unwilling. Abram faces a similar test.
Why did he get into trouble? It seems to me that it is because he didn't believe in the promises of God. God said Canaan would be the land where he would prosper, but when famine hit and testing came, Abram was off to Egypt. God hadn't mentioned anything about prospering and being blessed in Egypt, so this must have been Abram's idea.
IT'S DURING THE LEAN TIMES THAT MY FAITH IS TESTED TOO. Am I willing to settle for second best when it comes to the things of God, or pursue the dream that God wants for my life, even during the famine?
In Genesis 12:10 during the lean times, "Abram went down to Egypt". There is no mention of Abram calling out to God about this. He's a business man. He just makes a logical decision, but it is decision that is devoid of the promises God gave him. DISCONNECTION!
WHENEVER I CHOOSE EGYPT OVER THE PROMISED LAND I WALK IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. Egypt only brought slavery to Israel. It seems the conflict with Egypt all started with the choices that Abram made and ever since, his descendents have had the same tendency to choose Egypt over God's promises. It eventually leads to Moses having to lead Israel out of there all together.
Whenever I choose my circumstances over my beliefs it seems it is at that point where I get into trouble. It was true of Abram too. As Pastor Brian Houston from Hillsong Church says, "We have to bring our circumstances up to the level of our beliefs, not the other way around." When my beliefs are lowered to the level of my circumstances they are limited and powerless. They are hollow and are more likely to resemble doubt and the values of the world - A DISCONNECTION! (which reminds me - my telephone bill is due!)
2. But Abram also DISCONNECTED FROM HIS WIFE. I disconnect with my wife in some unfortunate ways, although it is not my intention to do so. DO I NOTICE WHAT SHE WEARS? Well, yes, but ask me about it at the end of the day and I won't be able to tell you. I know this because she has asked me and I haven't been able to tell her. It is an unfortunate disconnection because it can be extremely upsetting to a woman when she takes a lot of time to look beautiful just for you. I am getting better at noticing.
SARAI WAS AT LEAST 65 YEARS OLD AND BEAUTIFUL. Older women seem to love reading about Sarai. They gain hope of the chance of remaining beautiful and attracting the attention of men into their older years. Why that is important at 65, I don't know. If your married, why is it important at all to attract other men? Sarai could still turn the heads of men wherever she went. I am sure she wasn't trying to do this, but SHE WAS THE GRACE KELLY OF THE ANCIENT WORLD (What do you mean you don't remember Grace Kelly? How about Audrey Hepburn? OK, Catherine Zeta-Jones or some other aging movie star?)
I don't know what it was about the Egyptians, but Abram didn't trust them. He thought they would try to kill him just because he had a beautiful wife. Where did that thought come from? Even if I go through a bad part of town, I don't expect to die just because my wife is beautiful. This passage has never made any sense to me. Anyway, he passes Sarai off as his sister, which is only a half lie, since she is his half sister - they shared a common father. HOW THIS PROTECTS ABRAM, I DON'T KNOW! It certainly puts Sarai in danger. What kind of a husband does this? What is he trying to do? How is a brother any safer than a husband? And how did Sarai feel about all this? She is the one most in danger!
YOU KNOW THE STORY. Sarai attracts the attention of Pharaoh's officials and then Pharaoh himself. Pharaoh takes Sarai into his harem. He treats Abram well, gives him livestock and servants and pack animals. ABRAM STILL DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING! He seems happy to accept the favour of Pharaoh over fighting to protect his wife. Property it seems was important to Abram - MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIS MARRIAGE. DISCONNECTION!
Pharaoah is probably trying to give the hint to Abram to get out of town by bribing him with all this wealth and equipment.
But Pharaoh also suffers great plagues because of Sarai, and somewhere down the line, he gets word that she is Abram's wife. Maybe Sarai had to draw his attention to this fact to save herself. We are not told, but somehow Pharaoh connects the dots - MARRIED WOMAN AND GREAT PLAGUES - hopefully before sleeping with her.
AFFAIRS ALWAYS CARRY WITH THEM A PLAGUE THAT DISCONNECTS YOUR LIFE FROM GOD AND YOUR WIFE. It isn't worth the heartache they cause. The witness to this man of influence in the ancient world was not a good one.
God wants me to love my wife and respect her enough to protect her and our marriage. That alone will provide a great example for others, and apart from anything else my wife is worth risking death for. How would I respond in a situation like this? I'd like to think that I would come out of it with MY WITNESS AND MY MARRIAGE INTACT, but I know that anyone is capable of falling. Lord, protect my marriage and my witness for both our sakes.
Genesis 12:18 says that "Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. "What have you done to me?" he demanded. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,' and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!" Pharaoh ordered some of his men to escort them, and he sent Abram out of the country, along with his wife and all his possessions." Well done Pharaoh! At least he has some form of integrity which is more than I can say for Abram.
"I know Lord, you don't want me to have my needs met by the world, but by You. So often I have looked to Egypt instead of Canaan." At least Abram did the right thing and headed back to Canaan (Genesis 13:1-3). I wouldn't like the cold reception that Abram probably encountered from his wife on the way home.
Isaiah 31:1 (NLT) says it well "What sorrow awaits those who look to Egypt for help, ... instead of looking to the Lord, the Holy One of Israel."
God bless you Church as you do as Matthew 6:33 (NLT) says, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) says, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you."
God bless you Church as you connect with God and your marriage partner and tune in to what it is that they are saying in the good times as well as the famine circumstances you face in life.
Pastor Ross
