Genesis 12: Abram in Egypt

¹⁰ There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine in the land was severe.

Abram went to Egypt because the famine was so severe, and he wanted to be able to feed his family. But, by going to Egypt, he left the land that the Lord called him to. Abram left the land the Lord called him to because he didn't have enough faith in the Lord.


When they get near to Egypt, Abram told his wife Sarai to pretend to be his sister so that Abram would not be killed because of her beauty. We can see from this passage that Sarai was not an ordinary woman, but one of exceptional beauty. Abram was afraid the Egyptians would envy him and kill him so that they may keep his wife. Sarai, being a good, obedient wife, did as Abram told her. When they entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw how extraordinarily beautiful she was. Believing that she was only Abram's sister, she was taken to Pharaoh's house. Abram was treated well because Pharaoh was pleased with his beautiful 'sister'. In verse 16, Abram was given "flocks and herds, male and female donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels".


This was a great sin that Abram committed. He didn't have faith that the Lord would provide for him, he and his wife lie to the Egyptians, and he hands his wife over to the Pharaoh in exchange for material things. God had every right to kill Abram, but Pharaoh gets punished instead. Verse 17 "the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with severe plagues because of Abram's wife Sarai". The Pharaoh was angry and confused. He asked Abram why he didn't tell him that Sarai was his wife, and why he lied. Pharaoh then ordered his men to send Abram and his wife away.


In Genesis 12:2-3, the Lord says that Abram will be a great man of faith. Because of this promise, when Abram was in Egypt, he was blessed by God because the Egyptians provided him so many things. Even when  Abram lied to the Egyptians, God did not punish him. God still had a promise to fulfill with Abram. If Abram had just trusted and had faith in the Lord, and told the Lord that his family was suffering from the famine, He would have provided.