Abram and Sarai in Egypt
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Intro:
Intro:
TS: One of the wonderful things about Scripture is that it does not sugar coat its heroes. All the men and women that God used in Scripture possessed character flaws.
TS: One of the wonderful things about Scripture is that it does not sugar coat its heroes. All the men and women that God used in Scripture possessed character flaws.
Jacob was a liar and corrupt in his business dealings. \
Solomon was polygamous like his father, David.
The disciples constantly failed Christ, even denying him before his resurrection.
Peter, specifically, had anger and pride issues.
And the list could go on and on.
This leads us to our text in . When Abraham makes the decision to take shelter in Egypt due to a famine in Canaan he quickly realizes that he has a problem; his wife Sarai is extremely beautiful. This is a problem because he is entering the land of Pharaoh, a man who he presumably reaps where he does not sow, and the people of Egypt are not known for their good morals. Abraham has a serious concern that he will be killed and his wife taken. So what does he do? He asks his wife to lie about their marriage.
RS: This raises an important question for us. How should believers handle crisis situations? How should we respond to trials? Should we morally compromise for practical reasons? After all, if it is to save our lives, why not lie? Should we stand firm in the face of opposition even if it costs us everything?
The Details:
The Details:
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, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
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 not tell me that she was your wife?
The Lessons:
The Lessons:
So how do we handle trials?
1. Expect Trials.
1. Expect Trials.
a. We will face trials. That goes without saying.
i. For Abraham it was famine and then fear of the Pharaoh.
m it was famine and then fear of the Pharaoh.
ii.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
iii.
so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
b. Our trials may look different, but they press us and put us to the test.
i. Financial, relationships, persecution, temptations
ii.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
2. Have faith in God.
2. Have faith in God.
a. Abraham showed a lack of faith.
i. First, he went to Egypt. Perhaps faith would have led him to trust God’s provision in the midst of the famine.
ii. In Egypt, he came up with a human plan to save his hide.
1. This could have easily led to Sarah committing adultery.
2. Better that than die he thought.
b. How much better it would have been if they had walked into Egypt in faith.
3. God intervenes on the Earth.
3. God intervenes on the Earth.
a. You would think this is a no brainer. The Bible is filled with examples of God’s intervention.
b. However, today, there are many false teachings claiming God cannot act on earth.
i. Word-Faith,” the supporters of this movement believe that faith works like a mighty power or force. Through faith, we can obtain anything we want — health, wealth, success, whatever. However, this force is only released through the spoken word. As we speak the words of faith, power is discharged to accomplish our desires. Kenneth Hagin’s theme, as found in his booklet How to Write Your Own Ticket with God, can be summarized as follows (Christianity in Crisis, pp. 74-75):
ii. Faith is the literal substance “that God used to create the universe, and He transported that faith with His words.”
iii. All things, including God, are subject to this “force of faith” because it works according to spiritual “laws” of the universe. There are laws of the spirit world and its laws are more powerful than the physical world. The world and the physical forces governing it were created by the power of faith—a spiritual force.
iv. : “Faith is a spiritual force ….New age is trying to this… This is a spiritual law brother!”
v. The greatest thing God conceived of and created was an exact duplicate of Himself. This duplicate god—named Adam—was God manifested in the flesh.
vi. “Just the same as Jesus… he’s God manifested in the flesh… Adam in the garden was God manifested in the flesh!”
vii. The Fall caused Adam and Eve’s divine natures to be replaced with Satan’s nature. They also lost their rights of rulership to planet earth. Even God was barred from having full access to earth because Adam and Eve were under His lordship when they “fell.” Through their disobedience Satan became the god of this world.
viii. “God the Father cannot do anything in this earth realm without permission”
c. God is all-powerful. He plans and caries out His will whether we agree with Him or not!
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Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
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He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
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For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
iv. Job has the right attitude,
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
4. Seek God’s Wisdom
4. Seek God’s Wisdom
a. Through prayer
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If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
b. Through the word
i.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
