City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

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.

Genesis 12:17-20

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ⁷ By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. ¹¹ By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Hebrews 11:6-12

Reflection

This passage has always been interesting to me.  First, God punishes Pharaoh in such a way that Pharaoh understands the white lie that Abram told.  This is an amazing bank shot for God.  Pharaoh can trace his line back to Ham and the Flood, as we learned in Genesis 10, but he is not part of the promise that God is making with Abram.  So, he is an outsider, and he worships other gods.  But you might also think of it as Pharaoh being imperfect at observing the one true God.  But through that imperfection God was able to communicate exactly what was going on.  So, here we learn that God’s discipline is perfect.

Second, Sarai was a knockout.  It was not just that she was beautiful.  She was the kind of beauty that draw men to action.  So, Abram must have felt like a stranger walking through a bad neighborhood with twenty-dollar bills hanging out of his pockets.  But we must remember that this is the beginning of Abram’s time with God.  He does not know who it is that is taking care of him.  God is just starting to work His covenant into Abram’s life.  So, the first thing we get from him is what is there; fear, doubt, self-involvement.

Here is the kicker.  Pharaoh sends him on his way with Sarai, and all his stuff.  Then Pharaoh tells his people to stay clear of Abram.  So, word got out that Abram is not to be touched.  God made a covenant (agreement) with someone who is not very trustworthy.  But God, in the process of being faithful, will move Abram to Abraham and make him the father of the faithful.

Application

God is faithful.  Start with that.  God was faithful to Pharaoh, in keeping him from doing something that would be evil.  God was faithful to Abram, to make him into the man that will father our faith.  And God is faithful to you, whether you follow Him or not.

Often, we lose sight of the fact that God has His own thoughts and plans.  And it is those thoughts and plans that make a difference in the end.  I’m sure we can all think of times when we walked by danger, and in hindsight understand that things could have turned out much differently.  That is when we say, “but for the grace of God go I.”

Let the Lord work in your heart, that He might work character, grace & beauty, and faithfulness into your life.  As you get character, you will learn more about God’s character.  As you receive His grace, you will learn to be gracious and to treasure beauty.  As you learn to be faithful, you will learn the completeness of God’s faithfulness to you.

Prayer

Draw us near to Your heart Oh God.  Lead us to Your place and teach us Your faithfulness.  May Your name be praised always.  Amen.