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. It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.” It came about when Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. Therefore he treated Abram well for her sake; and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels. Genesis 12:10-16 NASB
Sometimes our imagination is not helpful. In our minds we imagine threats that are not real and play out scenarios that won’t likely come about. Abram (Abraham) did the same thing. He imagined that the Egyptians would steal his wife and kill him. So, he invented a lie for self preservation. Sarai was a big part of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abram. But, instead of staying in the promised land with her, he went to Egypt (the metaphor of bondage and sin). Pharaoh treated them well at first (sin is always pleasurable for a season). Surprisingly, Pharaoh was more aware of God’s intent than Abram, so he sent them away to the Negev (southern desert of Israel). Fear of man will always ensnare us, delay God’s plans, or result in injustice. The sooner we learn this, the better.
Is there anything holding me back from fulfilling God’s will? What am I really afraid of… loss of reputation? Ridicule? Failure?
God, as this day begins- I am excited about the week ahead. You alone have scripted it for Your glory and my blessings. Help me see who to reach out to and love in Your name. Thwart my enemies. Protect my mind from inventing problems that do not exist. Give me the courage to face famines and natural problems of life. Thank you that we can walk through this day together. I do pause Lord, to remember the moms and dads, brothers and sisters, and children who have lost loved ones last week- and said ‘so long’ or ‘goodbye’. Be their comfort. Amen.
