A Failure of Faith

A Failure of Faith Genesis 12:10-20 May 5, 2019 The Big Idea: In Abraham’s trial of not being able to provide for his family, he resorts to his own ingenuity instead of trusting God. And, as trials often do, they revealed Abraham’s deepest character flaw. It didn’t have to be that way. Trusting God is always the best choice. Genesis 12:1-9 (ESV) 12 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. WHAT WE LEARN FROM ABRAHAM’S FAILURE OF FAITH 1. Trials should be expected in life. [James 1:2; 1 Peter 4:12] 2. Trials are always accompanied by a temptation. Look at both the experiences of Job and Jesus. 3. Asking God for wisdom during trials provides the best alternative to our schemes. [James 1:5] 4. Sinful choices always have an element of selfishness to them. 5. Sinful choices we make always affect others and damage our witness to unbelievers. 6. God’s Grace and Faithfulness in the face of Abraham’s unfaithfulness is an undeserved and unexpected twist in the story. [2 Timothy 2:13] LESSONS FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO WILL WALK BY FAITH 1. We must decide daily whether we will trust God in the promises He has made to us. 2. There is always a character flaw that shows up when we are under pressure. Have you acknowledged what yours is, confessed it to the Lord, and asked Him to change that in you? 3. We should learn from and see the warning in the mistakes other people make. [1 Corinthians 10:6] 4. There is an opportunity for growth in Christ-likeness that is unique to Christians going through hardships, if we will only embrace what God wants to produce in us. [Romans 5:3-5]