Gen. 12:11-1311And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. (Genesis 12:11‑13)
“And it came to pass, when he (Abraham) was come near to enter into Egypt that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: And they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.” 10:10-13.
The Lord has said of His own: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:1414I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:14). In the same chapter (John 17) He brings out in a most blessed way the difference between being in the world and yet not of the world. The children of God in all generations are warned never to be part of the world: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” 1 John 2:1515Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15); “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:22And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2).
But the believer cannot attain to this by his own strength. It can only be in the power of the Holy Spirit who delights to occupy him with heavenly things. And He can only so entertain the heart when one goes on in a sense of his own utter weakness, and relies on the strength of the Lord Jesus.
This then was the failure of Abraham at this point. He who had proved God’s strength and grace over so long a time, now puts himself at a distance from the One who alone could have kept him in the trial. He foolishly places himself in a position where he must learn his own weakness and taste the bitter fruit of his folly.
One of the first signs of his getting away from the grace of God was taking matters into his own hands. The flesh in us will ever seek to avoid the trial of faith. God had not told Abraham to go into Egypt. What caused him to go there was the subtlety of Satan who brought to him word of the attractiveness of that land. The abundance and comforts of Egypt had a strong appeal to one who for a moment had forgotten to place his way entirely with God.
Another indication that he had gotten out of communion with God was the scheming of his own mind as he became aware of the hazards to be encountered when he crossed the border. Here we witness the shamefully low state in this “man of faith,” for now he determined to save his own life, even at the expense of his wife. What a contrast to this was the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might bring us from death unto life.
But if Abraham fell so sadly short of his proper path, there should be profit to us in reviewing the humbling account of this part of his history. Scripture tells us, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition.” 1 Corinthians 10:1111Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (1 Corinthians 10:11).
ML 02/28/1965