Good Morning Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We continue with our study of Abram and Sarai as they now leave the land of Canaan and go into the land of Egypt. This email covers Genesis 12:10-20.
Genesis 12:10 – notice it says, “there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt…”
“Egypt” = Hebrew word “Mitzraim,” which means “bondage, slavery, servitude.”
We know “Egypt” represents or is a picture of the world and its system, man’s wisdom. “Went down,” in a spiritual sense, means “to leave a higher realm and descend into a lower or inferior realm.” We leave the spiritual realm and descend into the physical realm. Therefore, we’re instructed to think, speak, and act in the spiritual realm with The Word of God – which is Spirit and is life (John 6:63).
The Land of Canaan is experiencing a famine. The Scriptures tell us it was a “grievous famine.”
There is a treasure trove of revelation in Genesis 12:10-20 – about Abram and Sarai’s time in Egypt.
The “FEAR” Abram had of being killed by the Egyptians for Sarai and her great beauty is simply “UNBELIEF.” God has already promised Abram in Genesis 12:2-3 He was going to make of Abram a great nation and the six other promises we covered earlier from Genesis 12:2-3. This is also reiterated by God at Sichem in Genesis 12:7 – that his seed [Abram] should inherit the land.
If Abram or Sarai were killed, God couldn’t keep His promise to Abram.
God had to teach Abram to trust His Word. Later we find Abraham willing to sacrifice his only son Isaac for the Lord God because Abraham had grown in faith and believed God with all his heart.
We must grow in faith just as faithful Abraham did. But which FAITH? There is the faith in man’s wisdom and there is the faith in God’s Word. Both are types of faith. One is called “FEAR” and one is called “FAITH.”
I Corinthians 2:5
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
We don’t have the time to dive into a deep study of the separation of Abram and Sarai, but I will give you Spiritual nuggets you can take and study.
REVELATION – NOTICE GOD DIDN’T INSTRUCT ABRAM NOT TO GO INTO EGYPT AS HE DID ISAAC IN GENESIS 26. WHY?
BECAUSE THE FAITH IN GOD’S WORD ABRAM AND SARAI EXERCISED IN EGYPT GAVE GOD THE AUTHORITY TO INTERVENE IN LATER PROPHETIC EVENTS INVOLVING EGYPT AND ISRAEL, TO DELIVER THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL PHYSICALLY AND SPIRTUALLY FROM THE WORLD.
[REMEMBER ABRAHAM WILLING TO SACRIFICE ISAAC. ABRAHAM WAS GOD’S COVENANT PARTNER. WHATEVER ABRAHAM WAS WILLING TO GIVE, GOD HAS TO GIVE AS WELL.]
ABRAM = is a type or picture of FAITH.
SARAI = is a type or picture of GRACE.
PHAROAH = is a type of picture of the LAW.
FAITH is separated from GRACE and then rejoined at a later point. This is prophetic of four events yet to come from the day of Abraham:
1.) Jacob, which represents FAITH, is separated from Joseph, which represents GRACE, and then rejoined (Joseph a picture or type of Jesus the Messiah).
2.) Children of Israel, which represent FAITH, are separated from God, which represents GRACE, and then rejoined (Passover and Exodus).
3.) Man, which represents FAITH, is separated from GRACE by the Law and then rejoined (by Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection).
4.) Israel, which represents FAITH, is separated from GRACE, Jesus the Messiah, and will be rejoined.
Here is something we learn:
YOU CAN HAVE FAITH WITHOUT GRACE, BUT YOU CANNOT HAVE GRACE WITHOUT FAITH.
Let’s look at the example of Abram and Sarai. In Genesis 12:13, we see Abram instructing his wife to say they were brother and sister because of Abram’s fear of being killed. So, Abram and Sarai GO INTO EGYPT AS BROTHER AND SISTER. Then we see in Genesis 13:1 Abram being reunited with Sarai and LEAVING AS HUSBAND AND WIFE.
What is the significance?
BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE OF THE SAME FAMILY BUT THEY ARE NOT ONE FLESH AS HUSBAND AND WIFE. THEY ARE NOT INTIMATE. FAITH AND GRACE ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.
What is the Spiritual significance of marriage? It is a picture of FAITH and GRACE united.
Mark 10:7-8
7 For this cause shall a man [Jesus] leave his father and mother [El Shaddai], and cleave to his wife [The Church; His bride];
8 And they twain shall be one flesh [Grace and Faith]: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace [Jesus] are ye saved through faith [Man]; and that not of yourselves [there is nothing we can do to earn salvation]: it [Grace] is the gift of God:
9 Not of works [Law], lest any man [Faith] should boast.
While Abram, Faith, and Sarai, Grace, were in Egypt, God protected them. He did not allow the lineage of Jesus Christ to be tainted by the Pharaoh.
What can we learn from Genesis 12:10-20? First, God honors His covenant – His Word.
Psalm 89:34
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
God promised to bless Abram in Genesis 12:2-3 if Abram would believe. Abram and Sarai left a “grievous famine” in Canaan and while in Egypt were blessed:
Genesis 12:16
And he [Pharaoh] entreated Abram well for her [Sarai] sake: and he [Abram] had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
Pharaoh transferred some of his wealth into the hands of Abram and Sarai in Genesis 12:16. He didn’t have to do this, but his heart was moved to do so.
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Second, God protects His children.
Genesis 12:17
And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
Job 5:22
At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
Psalm 37:19
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
We have an awesome and gracious Father, God, and King, Jesus! No matter our circumstances, our Father has given us a way out of trouble and distress through His Word.
II Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour [sweet aroma] of His knowledge by us in every place.
According to God’s Word, Who cannot lie (Titus 1:2), God’s will is we ALWAYS TRIUMPH IN CHRIST. So, we may not be triumphing all the time in Christ, now, but according to God’s Word, we can. So, if we’re not, we have to work with the Holy Spirit to take inventory of ourselves. It’s not God that’s the problem; it’s not The Word that’s the problem; it is our thinking, believing, confession, and thanksgiving.
Have a wonderful Friday and Weekend in Christ Jesus.
Larry