“And the Lord plagued Pharaoh... because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.”
The Lord dealt in His own marvelous way, for he did not smite Abram, but “He plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues.” His righteous government was at work; for Pharaoh knew well enough that he had no right to take the woman, even if she were Abram’s sister. He was taking advantage of his position to claim what did not belong to him. Struck by the evident hand of God, he called Abram and found out the truth.
Pharaoh’s anger was justified, for Abram’s duplicity might indeed have resulted in serious consequences. If a Christian conceals an identity with Christ and intrudes himself as a partaker in this world’s things, he is guilty of an injustice to those with whom he thus mingles. God’s deliverance of Abram was affected through plagues on Pharaoh, and so, those in the world with whom a Christian may identify himself may experience sorrow and plagues before God delivers His own from their company. May each of us through grace seek that path where one can walk having God’s approval.
Although Abram’s defection must have been abhorrent and grievous to the Lord, yet He never took His eye off that one whom He had called. “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.” Psalms 33:18,1918Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 19To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. (Psalm 33:18‑19). Self-will may take one of His sheep away from the path of blessing, yet such a one shall never perish. In faithful love the Lord may have to speak harshly to the wayward one, but in one way or another He will come in to remove him from the place of danger and shame.
Abram’s deliverance was not without deep humiliation. What answer could he give to Pharaoh’s questions? None whatever, and he must have blushed in shame as this worldly ruler reproved him and called for him to leave the land. Abram’s humiliation, however, was the beginning of his restoration.
We are reminded that Abram was a man of nature, as well as a man of faith. Instead of keeping the old nature in subjection, he allowed it to overcome him. May the story of his mistake make each of us more aware of the danger of going into the world. It had been better to have had little with God’s blessing in Canaan than to have gained treasures in Egypt and leanness of soul.
ML 03/21/1965