The Truth About The Path To Egypt Series

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PATH TO EGYPT

Genesis 12:10-20

Intro: We have before us this evening what is probably the saddest event in the entire life of Abraham. We see him making a decision that will bring tremendous trouble into his life and into ours as well. Our text tells that during a time of famine in Canaan, Abram took his family and moved to the land of Egypt.

Now, in the Bible, Egypt is always presented to us as a picture and a type of the world. It was where the children of Israel were held in bondage to Pharaoh for 400 years. Even after they were delivered by the power of God, they still longed for what they had left behind in Egypt, Ex. 16:3. That’s just like us! Regardless of how the Lord blesses us, there is still a part of us that looks back longingly to the world we have left behind.

As we see this man make his journey into Egypt, there are some truths about the path he took to Egypt that we need to notice this evening. Tonight, I want to preach for a few minutes about The Truth about the Path to Egypt.

I. IT IS ALWAYS A DOWNWARD PATH (v. 10)

When a believer leaves Canaan (The place of victory and blessing) to go to Egypt (The world), it always leads him downhill. In Amos 2:10, Amos described it as a low place as well.

A. It Led Him Down From The Land Of Promise

• The land of Canaan represented God’s Best for Abram. Canaan land was where he was supposed to be!

• There is no place more precious than the place God wants you to be!

B. It Led Him Down From The Land Of Preparation

• The famine in Canaan was not a punishment for sin, rather it was a test of faith.

• He left God’s best and ran away from God’s test.

• Real faith will always be tested.

• The great test is to submit to the test and trust God instead of running away!

• The Widow of Zarephath - 1 Kings 17 Abram was to choose the uncertainty of Canaan over the abundance of Egypt.

C. It Led Him Down From The Land Of Provision

• God had promised to bless Abram in Canaan, Gen. 12:2.

• Canaan was also the place of God’s rest for Abram.

• Only there could he rest in the arms of providence and trust God to take care of him.

• The best place to be is where the Lord places you, even if it is difficult.

II. IT IS ALWAYS A DISHONEST PATH (vv. 11-15)

A. Abram Birthed A Lie

• It is a sad day when a believer turns away from the truth o embrace a lie.

• This may be the saddest episode in Abraham’s life, and it forever preserved in the word of God.

• We can learn from his mistake!

• We all have those times when we birth a lie in our hearts to try and justify the things we do and allow in our lives.

• It is a sad day when it happens!

B. Abram Became The Lie

• After he told the lie, he began to live the lie!

• One lie always leads to another!

• This is clearly seen in David’s lies and actions following his adultery with Bathsheba in 2 Sam. 11.

• Your lies always affect your life!

C. Abram Believed The Lie

• He came to believe the lie he had fabricated more than the truth he had received from God.

• Verse 12 tells us that Abram was worried about something that could never happen.

• He could not die because God’s promise to him had not been fulfilled, Gen. 12:2-3.

• This always sin’s way, Gen. 3:1-6 - Eve sinned because she believed the devil’s lies more than she believed God.

• Peter fell because he believed his own lies more than he believed the Lord’s word - Mark 14:30-31.

III. IT IS ALWAYS A DISASTROUS PATH (vv. 15-17)

A. Because Of The Potential

• Abram’s sin had the potential to cause others to fall.

• Pharaoh could have taken Sarai to be his wife!

• When a believer goes to Egypt spiritually, it causes others to fall away or stay away.

• Ghandi said that the reason he never became a Christian was other Christians!

B. Because Of The Punishment

• Abram’s sin brought God’s hand of judgment into the situation!

• Wouldn’t it be a shame to know that our sin caused a believer to stumble or a sinner to be confirmed in his decision for hell?

C. Because Of The Profits

• The Bible tells us that Abram left Egypt with more than when he entered.