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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
In Genesis 12, Abram and his wife Sarai (their names were later changed to Abraham and Sarah) traveled to Egypt due to a famine in Canaan. Abram instructed his wife to tell people in Egypt that she...
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Danny Hickman
Supporter
The outcome of Abram's lie to the Egyptian pharaoh is difficult to understand without a working knowledge of the principle known to Believers as Grace. Law-mindedness will cause confusion in this case as in many of it's kind in the Bible. The most glaring is the story of The Cross. That, I believe, is the basis of stories like Noah and his family, lot and his family, and here, Abram and his. Why save or bless these people? The only thing I can make of it is that God chose to for the purpose of displaying His grace. That is hard for many to grasp, so all I (we) can do is try. Those stories are there to get us thinking straight on a subject that seems to lack straightness. And it does. In our estimation as humans in this struggle, is to think Abram must not be guilty since he profited from his lie and the Pharoah was punished. What's up with that? Grace is what. The most misunderstood characteristic pertaining to The LORD, and the most important. I know this is hard but it, Grace, is the emphasis behind this story, not Abram's goodness or the Pharoah's anything. The greatness example of Grace is The LORD Jesus suffering on The Cross for the guilty, IN OUR PLACE. I believe this story is designed to get us ready for THE BIG ONE!
Adeyemi Akala
Supporter
Like the Scripture says, what is written is for our learning and that is always my question when I read the bible. It was God that asked Abraham and his wife to move into Egypt and He who promised was more than able to take care of them. Firstly, rather than trusting God's provision of Protection, Abraham decided to set up his own "plan B" for Protection and preservation. Abraham was a typical MAN/WOMAN that God has given loads of promises and we still go ahead to set up our own plan B regardless of what we Know (mentally) about God's plan. Secondly, Although, Abraham's Plan worked, it could only deliver for a short time. If the plaque did not come on Pharoah, He will still find out sooner or later that they were husband and wife. Man's plan has got a very short life span and if God does not step in, then trouble will be the end result of our human plan...ALL THE TIME. If only man can trust God fully, God's plan will always deliver. Thirdly, even though, Abraham set up his own plan contrary to God's, His relationship with God was not affected like many people claim that any error we fall into will automatically cut us from God's grace, love and protection. NO. God still watches over Abraham and was ready to destroy any nation or people who hurt, afflict or stand in Abraham's way. That is sweet to know that Nothing can seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Hence, the punishment inflicted on Pharoah and his kingdom. The fact that we have a Father who will fight for us at all time should make us Shout aloud daily and praise His Glorious Name. We are confident of this very thing that if God be for us, who can be against us. In conclusion, We are special and God is jealously watching over us to make sure that His plans and purposes for our lives is furfill regardless. If He can give HIS only SON for us, what else is there to deny us? God bless you
Billy P Eldred
Supporter
When we first begin to read the Bible, there are many things we don't fully understand. After I had first read through the Bible front to back, I had the image of God as someone to be feared. It wasn't until I had read through the Bible several times that I began to see God as He really is and just how "Just" God really is. Sometimes we have to get enough of the Bible in us to understand it. This is one of those stories. God called Abraham, then known as Abram, to leave his homeland and go where God would lead him. To a land of promise where God would Bless him. Abram believed God. When Abram was led to Egypt during a famine, Abram already had the promise that he would be made into a great nation with many descendants. He was still willing to go even though he knew the reputation of Egypt and the danger that waited him. He instructed his wife to tell those they would meet that she was his sister instead of his wife as a perceived protection from the dangers of the lands they would travel through. We don't know if this was his own idea or whether he felt led by God to do so. What we do know is that it worked. Because of this, Abram was treated very well. It worked so well that Abram used it again a little later: Genesis 20 he had Sarai tell Abimelek the same thing. This time we get a bit more information. Abimelek asked Abram why he lied to him. Abram explained that it was not a lie. Sarai really was his half sister. Again Abram was blessed. It isn't until we get to the new testament that we get the answer to this question. In Romans chapter four we are told that "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness"! Abram, later renamed Abraham, believed God when he was told to leave his home and that he would be blessed and have many descendants. He trusted God. God blesses those who trust Him. I believe God led Abram to use the alternate truth that Sarai was his sister in order to grow Abram's processions and reputation and each time it worked. And if it was a lie then maybe God did not lead Abram to tell it, rather as we also learn from Romans 4: [7] “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” I encourage you to read again Abram's story from Gen. Chapters 11-21 and then the 4th chapter of Romans and see how they all fit together.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Why did God punish Pharaoh for Abraham's lie? Genesis 12:17 This, along with the fact that Pharaoh almost certainly had multiple wives, suggests that he never had an opportunity to consummate his marriage to Sarai. To prevent catastrophe, and to rescue Abram from his own stupid scheming, the Lord afflicts Pharaoh's household with great plagues or diseases. In Genesis 12:17, the story unfolds with Abraham (then called Abram) and Sarai (then called Sarai) traveling to Egypt due to a famine in Canaan. Fearing for his life because of Sarai's beauty, Abram lies to Pharaoh, claiming that Sarai is his sister rather than his wife. As a result, Pharaoh takes Sarai into his household, intending to marry her. However, God intervenes by sending plagues or diseases upon Pharaoh's household, which ultimately reveals the truth to Pharaoh and leads him to rebuke Abram before sending them away from Egypt. The reason God punishes Pharaoh isn't because he was directly responsible for the situation, but because God needed to protect His plan for Abraham and Sarai. Pharaoh, acting on the assumption that Sarai was unmarried, would have unwittingly taken her as part of his harem, jeopardizing God's covenant promise to Abraham, which required Sarai to be preserved and eventually bear Isaac. Pharaoh's actions, therefore, threatened God's larger purpose. Pharaoh's punishment, as you mentioned, can be understood as God rescuing Abram from his own dishonesty and self-preservation instincts. Abram's fear led him to deceive Pharaoh, putting Sarai in a dangerous position. God's intervention by afflicting Pharaoh's household with plagues prevented any further escalation of the situation, safeguarding both Sarai's honor and God's promises. Additionally, Pharaoh likely hadn't consummated his relationship with Sarai, as you pointed out, which is consistent with the idea that God was protecting Sarai from any defilement that might have disrupted His plan for her to conceive Isaac. This incident demonstrates God's protection and faithfulness to His covenant, even when humans act out of fear or deceit. It also highlights God's sovereignty in preserving His promises, despite the shortcomings of His chosen people.
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