Trust God

But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. And Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.” So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had. Genesis 12:17-20

To fully grasp these verses you would have to read the whole chapter but I don’t have room to include the whole chapter in one devotional but we will discuss the previous verses in order to better understand the ones above. The first three verses are promises from God to Abram. God called Abram to leave his country and his family and in turn he would bless him and his future generations. Abram was obedient even though he was already 75 years old without children; he believed God would bless him with a son. In verse seven, God makes yet another promise concerning the land in which He had Abram settle in. The promise is that the land would belong to his descendants.

In verses 10-20 there was a famine in the land of Canaan and Abram and his wife traveled to the land of Egypt where there was food. Here we see the display of a very human reaction and a tool that the enemy uses against Christians – fear. Abram felt fear because he saw that his wife was beautiful and feared that he would be killed by the Egyptians so that Pharoah could have his wife. So he came up with a plan to say that his wife was his sister rather than his wife, not knowing that this would cause more harm than good. Many times God speaks to our lives and makes promises to us and ask us to trust Him, yet when we experience fear, we forget that trust and act on our own survival instincts. God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man to change His mind. If He said He would be with you wherever you go, then He will be with you wherever you go. Abram had not yet realized the faithfulness of God in His life at that point because He did not stand on God’s promise and trusted his own instincts and lied about Sarai being his sister.

Now look at God’s faithfulness, mercy and sovereignty in this situation. Not only did he bless and prosper Abram in this land but He also protected him and his family from harm and the Pharoah’s desire for Sarai. Since Abram said that Sarai was his sister, Pharoah saw no wrong in desiring her for himself because she was beautiful, but God plagued him. Praise the Lord!!! God warns us before we make mistakes!! Pharoah did not know that he desired a married woman but the Lord took his sleep and gave him dreams to let him know not to touch her. Pharoah’s response was as we read in the above verses, to send Abram on his way with his wife. Not only that but everything that he had acquired while he was there he took with him. God blessed Abram but the blessing could have been greater had Abram trusted God to preserve his life and told the truth about Sarai being his wife.

In application to us today, we must trust God with all that we have, all that we are, and all that we will be. Sometimes we allow fear to enter our lives through situations, people, or our own emotions, our own lack of self confidence, our own lack of trust in others and in God. When we enter situations where the unknown plays a major factor in the outcome, we must trust God for our deliverance, sustenance, and everything else. We cannot and must not compromise because we are afraid! The God we serve will never leave us nor forsake us. Abram’s fear could’ve cost him his wife and the promises that God had for them both, but God did not allow that happen. Mercifully He intervened and plagued Pharoah and his house and by doing so He protected Abram, Sarai, AND Pharoah! Although Pharoah did not know the Lord, God is merciful and desires that all be saved and therefore sent warnings so that Pharoah would not sin against God and against His anointed. God gives us chances to repent and He makes a way for us when in trouble. Abram feared and did not allow God to bless him the way He wanted to while in Egypt, but He still blessed him and never left him. Praise God!!! God bless you!