Abraham's Faith Failure

(NLT)

(NLT)

10 At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner. 11 As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’ 13 So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”

10 At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner. 11 As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’ 13 So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”

14 And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty. 15 When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace. 16 Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.

14 And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty. 15 When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace. 16 Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.

17 But the LORD sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. “What have you done to me?” he demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!” 20 Pharaoh ordered some of his men to escort them, and he sent Abram out of the country, along with his wife and all his possessions.

17 But the LORD sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. “What have you done to me?” he demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!” 20 Pharaoh ordered some of his men to escort them, and he sent Abram out of the country, along with his wife and all his possessions.

(ESV)

(ESV)

10 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. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 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.” 14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

10 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. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 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.” 14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

17 But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 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.” 20 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.

17 But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 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.” 20 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.

Disappointment Can Lead to a Faith Failure

Disappointment Can Lead to a Faith Failure

++After the Abraham's Faith Produced TRIUMPH - The Lord allowed the TESTING - in this case Famine

After the Abraham's Faith Produced TRIUMPH - The Lord allowed the TESTING - in this case Famine

What a great disappointment this must have been to the pilgrims. God was testing their faith, to see if they were trusting the land or the Lord (Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

What a great disappointment this must have been to the pilgrims. God was testing their faith, to see if they were trusting the land or the Lord (Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

++Abraham leaves his Tents and the Altars - representing His Personal TRUST in God's Direction & His Public TESTIMONY ++Think of All Egypt Represents:++The WorldPoly-Theism & PaganismMan is an Equal to the "gods"World of Polluted Living (Nile)World of War & Conquering (Last one to the Top is a Loser)Allegiance with those Opposed to GodBondageDown (heading into spiritual depravity):

Abraham leaves his Tents and the Altars - representing His Personal TRUST in God's Direction & His Public TESTIMONY

Think of All Egypt Represents:

The World

Poly-Theism & Paganism

Man is an Equal to the "gods"

World of Polluted Living (Nile)

World of War & Conquering (Last one to the Top is a Loser)

Allegiance with those Opposed to God

Bondage

Down (heading into spiritual depravity)

:

1 “What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the LORD. “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins. 2 For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade. 3 But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated, and by depending on him, you will be disgraced. 4 For though his power extends to Zoan and his officials have arrived in Hanes, 5 all who trust in him will be ashamed. He will not help you. Instead, he will disgrace you.”

1 “What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the LORD. “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins. 2 For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade. 3 But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated, and by depending on him, you will be disgraced. 4 For though his power extends to Zoan and his officials have arrived in Hanes, 5 all who trust in him will be ashamed. He will not help you. Instead, he will disgrace you.”

:

:

13 “But if you refuse to obey the LORD your God, and if you say, ‘We will not stay here; 14 instead, we will go to Egypt where we will be free from war, the call to arms, and hunger,’ 15 then hear the LORD’s message to the remnant of Judah. This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and live there, 16 the very war and famine you fear will catch up to you, and you will die there. 17 That is the fate awaiting every one of you who insists on going to live in Egypt. Yes, you will die from war, famine, and disease. None of you will escape the disaster I will bring upon you there.’

13 “But if you refuse to obey the LORD your God, and if you say, ‘We will not stay here; 14 instead, we will go to Egypt where we will be free from war, the call to arms, and hunger,’ 15 then hear the LORD’s message to the remnant of Judah. This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and live there, 16 the very war and famine you fear will catch up to you, and you will die there. 17 That is the fate awaiting every one of you who insists on going to live in Egypt. Yes, you will die from war, famine, and disease. None of you will escape the disaster I will bring upon you there.’

Discouragement & Fear Can Lead to a Faith Failure (vv. 11-14)

Discouragement & Fear Can Lead to a Faith Failure (vv. 11-14)

++Abraham gets inside his own head… and starts to think (instead of seeking God through prayer)++Discouragement Leads to Denial of God's Plan on a Personal then Public Level ++Denial Leads to DeceptionDeception Seemed to lead to Momentary Prosperity (Hey, this plan I came up with worked out pretty well…)Remember that This Sin Brought Future Faith Fails (ch. 16) - the EGYPTIAN MAID HAGAR…++Deception Leads to DisciplineGod used the Pagan, Worldly Ruler, Pharaoh to TOSS Abraham Abruptly out of Egypt

Abraham gets inside his own head… and starts to think (instead of seeking God through prayer)

Discouragement Leads to Denial of God's Plan on a Personal then Public Level

Denial Leads to Deception

Deception Seemed to lead to Momentary Prosperity (Hey, this plan I came up with worked out pretty well…)Remember that This Sin Brought Future Faith Fails (ch. 16) - the EGYPTIAN MAID HAGAR…

Seemed to lead to Momentary Prosperity (Hey, this plan I came up with worked out pretty well…)Remember that This Sin Brought Future Faith Fails (ch. 16) - the EGYPTIAN MAID HAGAR…

Deception Leads to Discipline

God used the Pagan, Worldly Ruler, Pharaoh to TOSS Abraham Abruptly out of Egypt

-- CONSIDER THE OUTCOME:

CONSIDER THE OUTCOME:

The Testimony of FAITH was replaced with SCHEMING & DECEPTION which ended in DISCIPLINE at the hand of the World ( - Deliver such a one to Satan for destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus)++Abraham's TESTIMONY was replaced by FEAR & MISTRUST++Abraham's TESTIMONY was replaced by SELF-CENTERED CONCERNHis Self-Centered Concern brought plagues & humiliation - the judgement of God down on others

The Testimony of FAITH was replaced with SCHEMING & DECEPTION which ended in DISCIPLINE at the hand of the World

( - Deliver such a one to Satan for destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus)

Abraham's TESTIMONY was replaced by FEAR & MISTRUST

Abraham's TESTIMONY was replaced by SELF-CENTERED CONCERN

His Self-Centered Concern brought plagues & humiliation - the judgement of God down on others

Challenge:

Challenge:

When You Experience a Faith Failure - SIMPLY RETURN TO WHOM and WHERE YOU BELONG.

When You Experience a Faith Failure - SIMPLY RETURN TO WHOM and WHERE YOU BELONG. Stop DENYING & Start TRYINGStop SCHEMING & Start BELIEVING

Stop DENYING and Start TRYING

Stop SCHEMING & Start BELIEVING