Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.” When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. And for her sake he dealt well with Abram, and he had sheep, oxen…But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.” And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had. (12:10 – 20)
While we can assume that Abram’s concern was legitimate – in that culture he might be killed because Pharaoh would want his beautiful wife, he did not seek God about this situation, but just did what he thought best. And yet, God is still watching over them. God is involved. He somehow managed to communicate with Pharaoh that this woman was another man’s wife and that God was punishing Pharaoh and his house because Pharaoh had taken her, which resulted in Sarai being restored to Abram. Sarai did suffer due to Abram’s mismanagement in that incident (we don’t know for sure whether she had been touched or not, but simply being taken must have been hurtful) but overall, Abram was a man of faith and God took care of him and his family.
How often have I tried to figure out things on my own, and forgotten to simply go to God and ask Him what to do in a tricky or scary situation?
My friend, Laura, was part of a situation where her husband witnessed a murder by a terrorist gang. The FBI told them that there was a contract on her husband (to kill him) and that the FBI was going to change their identities and move them far away. They were to tell no one, and it was going to happen immediately. Laura and her husband asked for time to think about it. They were given five minutes. They prayed earnestly, seeking God, and believed that they weren’t to go for this plan, but they were to stay right where they were. I was astonished upon hearing this story! I confess that if the authorities/experts told me to move because someone was out to kill me (or my husband) I wouldn’t think to consult God. Except now that I have heard this story I hopefully would do so. And obviously God has protected them. Oh, how I want to be so walking with God that I will always be asking Him how to handle situations!
Prayer: God, I confess that so often I try and figure things out on my own and don’t go to You. Please help me to seek You in difficult situations and walk in step with You. Amen. (Ask God specifically about anything in your life right now for which you need guidance.)
