ABRAHAM

II. THE FAILURE OF GOD’S MAN. Verses 12:9-10.
For some reason Abraham gets restless. The old bedouin, vagabond spirit hits him. He feels he has
to move on. Through Abram we see the consequences from moving away from God’s place and
house.
A. A TIME OF TESTING FOR GOD’S MAN.
1. THE TEST. Verse 10a. “And there was a famine in the land.”
A famine comes into the land, but notice we hear nothing of this famine until Abraham has begun
to leave from God’s house, the place he was supposed to be. As Abraham moves toward Egypt, he
loses God’s blessing. God had promised to take care of Abram in Canaan, but when he leaves the
place God had told him to be the results are not good.
Reader, even when things get tough we need to hang on to God’s promises. His promise is “I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” That verse comes from a passage that gives us some
understanding with what is happening to Abram.
Hebrews 13:5-6
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye
have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say,
The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
The testimony of God’s faithfulness is involved here. I grant you that it is very hard at times to
simply rest in God’s promise to us. But, beloved, do we believe His promise or not?
2. ABRAM’S FAILURE. Verse 10.
When the believer leaves God’s will, he is an absolute failure. Abram took his eyes off God and
looked to the world for help. Abraham goes down to Egypt. In the Scriptures Egypt is a type, or
picture of the world.
Notice: Abraham goes down into Egypt. Anytime you move away from the house of God toward
the world it will be a downward trip. The world will always seek to drag you down. It will try to pull
you down to its level. Moving toward the world will never be a positive spiritual move.
B. THE DEPARTURE OF GOD’S MAN.
Abraham now finds himself in Egypt. As soon as he gets there, trouble begins.
1. ABRAHAM’S FEAR. 12:11-12.
When he moves away from God he loses fellowship with God and fear gets hold of him. His dear
wife, Sarai is a beautiful woman and he was afraid that the Egyptians would kill him to take her from
him. He decides to have her hide the fact that she is his wife for the sake of his own safety. Rather
than being her protector and provider, he is worried about himself. What a horrible thing to do to
your wife!
2. ABRAHAM’S LIE. 12:13.
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