Genesis 12, 10-20
After our diversion into Christmas and New Year, let us now return to our study of Abraham. If you recall in our last time together on this subject we noted that one of the primary attribute of Abraham was faith.
Well here in this story we come to a real test of Abraham's faith. He has been called to go into the land of Canaan. And yet as he journey's under God's command suddenly famine hits the land. No doubt he prayed for relief from the famine. No doubt as we might be tempted to do he prayed for a miraculous end to the problem. Well there was a solution and that as to go down into Egypt. There food was to be found. There God was directing his footsteps in answer to his prayer and his need.
Now we must take from this encouragement in our own lives. God is directing our lives if we have given them over to him completely. But that doesn't mean that we will be free of troubles, illness or disaster. Terrible things may befall us in this life. It doesn't mean God has rejected us. It doesn't mean God isn't in control. What it is above all else is a test of our metal. A test of our faith. A test a real test of whether or not we trust God.
Now Abraham was being tested here. But he fails. He heads to Egypt and and then at the border decides he daren't trust God altogether. Instead he is going to give God a helping hand. He fears for his life but has little thought for Sarah in truth.
Now what is actually going on here is that Sarah is being taken to the King's bed. She is going to have to sleep with him. That's what this is all about it. Now that might have been her fate if Abraham had been killed. She might well have been forced to go with the King. But at least that way there was no dishonour. This way is different. Abraham in a very real sense sets his wife up for this in order to preserve his own skin.
It also shows a distinct lack of faith in God. After all God had made certain promises to him which would all be worthless if he was killed in Egypt. So mighty in faith though he was in this case as they say in the vernacular "he lost his bottle".
You see there is no whitewash in scriptures. Abraham had tremendous faith. But here he fell. He failed to trust God. His faith faltered. And disaster nearly struck.
God however does two things. He puts the plan back on course and he teaches Abraham a lesson. Firstly he intervenes in the palace and causes much illness to befall the king and the court and then by the power of the Holy Spirit it all becomes obvious to the King that the God of Abraham was at work. He summons Abraham. He knows now that this is wife. He makes it plain to Abraham that had he known that in the first place he wouldn't have touched his wife.
So God drives the message home to Abraham - "see you should have known you could have trusted me". It may have defied logic as Abraham saw it - but he still should have known that he could trust God. If it was hard for Abraham so it is hard for us. We don't naturally trust other people. Trust is something we need to build up by experience and by getting to know the person concerned. So it has to be that way with God. We have to know God in order to trust him. And the more we know him, the more we dare to believe and trust him.
So not only has God taught Abraham a valuable lesson about faith and trust. He has also corrected the situation and now puts Abraham back onto the straight and narrow path. He also as we see protects Abraham from experiencing the full consequences of his action.
The King could have legitimately put Abraham in prison or even to death for his deception. He could certainly have stripped him of all his wealth. Or indeed done anything he chose to Abraham and there would have been no injustice.
But none of this happens. Instead the King gives Sarah back to him. And then he orders his men to help Abraham gather up everything he owns and then they escort him to the border and throw him out of the country. All in all Abraham has a very lucky escape and learns a valuable lesson into the bargain.
It is also a challenge and an inspiration to us. Firstly we realise that these great men of faith we find in the Bible were people like us. They achieved great things and became worthy servants of God - but they weren't any different to us. And that is hopeful. For it encourage us when we fall to pick ourselves up and get on with it and to listen to what God is saying to us that particular situation.
Secondly it a lesson to us about having faith. We see God blessing Abraham. But we also see Abraham experiencing lots of real problems in his life of service to God. We also see that even although we might think a situation is bad we must still trust on God. Even when it may apparent mean a real problem or danger for us -we must never the less trust God completely for he will always keep his promises.
Keep the faith. Hold fast to the faith. Trust in God. That's the real and powerful and helpful message we glean from this episode in the life of our Father in Faith, Abraham.