To be honest, I am a little lost when it comes to Genesis
12. If you haven’t read it yet, go do it. It will take less than 10 minutes, is
that so much for God to ask for?
Genesis 12 starts with God telling Abram to leave his
country and everything he knows. God doesn’t even tell Abram where he is going,
God says He will show Abram the land.
Abram sets out to do as God asks of him. He takes with him his wife Sarai
and his nephew Lot.
Read Genesis 12:2-3. God tells Abram that he will be
blessed. Those that bless Abram will also be blessed and those that curse Abram
shall be cursed. I actually think this is pretty awesome and something to
learn. God will bless us all and give us great things, all we have to do is
obey him. Just watch, He does exactly as he tells Abram He will do.
Because of the famine in the lands Abram goes to live in
Egypt for a while. I imagine the famine was not as bad there and that is why
Abram took his family there. Right outside of Egypt Abram stops and tells his
wife that she has to pretend that she is his sister. Sarai is a beautiful woman
and Abram fears that the men of Egypt will kill him to take his wife. So to
save his life they go in to Egypt as siblings, not spouses.
The Pharaoh of Egypt fancies Sarai and takes her as his own
wife. He also gives sheep, cattle, donkeys, servants, maids and camels to Abram
as a way to take care of Sarai’s family. It doesn’t last long though. God bring
disease to the Pharaoh and his household for taking Abrams wife.
This is where I get a little confused. Abram and Sarai were
the ones that lied. Lying, in case you didn’t know, is a sin. Yet, the Pharaoh
is the one who was punished for taking another mans wife…that he didn’t know
was Abrams wife. It kind of doesn’t make sense.
The Pharaoh, of course, gets mad and asks Abram why he lied.
Though, no answer ever comes. The Pharaoh tells Abram to take his wife and all
that he had given him and leave. Abram basically was booted out of Egypt. He
did as he was told.
I fail to understand why Abram did not get some kind of
punishment for lying. Yes, it was to save his life, but does that justify the
lie? It seems that he was rewarded for his lie in this event. He came to Egypt
with nothing but his wife, but he left with as a rich man.
I guess I have to admit though, if it was a small lie or
death, I would choose the lie. We all have our faults. It also goes to show
that even though we make mistakes, God still loves us and gives us the things
he promises.
That is all that happens in Genesis 12. Go read 13 and be
prepared for tomorrow! Just 10 minutes is enough to read the chapter and
meditate on it.
Much Love
Heather
