Genesis 12:10-20

“Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.” (Genesis 12:10, NKJV)

Abram was doing well in the land of Canaan. That wasn’t surprising because Canaan was where God called him to be. But then a famine struck. Suddenly it was difficult for Abram to find enough pasture for his flocks and herds. However, the grass was greener in Egypt, so Abram, Sarai and Lot went down there with everything they owned. There is no record of Abram ever praying about this move. It just seemed like a “no brainer”.

The child of God is not exempt from trials. Famine, sickness, hardship, criticism, and opposition happen to us all. For the unbeliever there may be no rhyme or reason for such circumstances, but the believer has an enduring promise from God:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Does that really mean “all things”? Admittedly, there are some things that seem so bad at the time that we cannot see how any good can come from them. We live in a fallen world where people operate according to their own sinful nature. Disease and death happen in this life. But God’s promise to the one who trusts in Christ is that He will work a greater purpose in your life than the affliction you are now suffering. And He will even use the lessons learned through this trial to form Christ in you.

For Abram, the Egyptian escapade was a lapse of faith. We see this in how he schemed to save his own skin. He told Sarai to say that she was his sister so that Pharaoh would not harm him. The consequences of this deception were nearly disastrous for this couple whom God had chosen to be the ancestors of the Messiah.

Pastor and Bible commentator Warren Wiersbe often said, “Faith is living without scheming.” If we truly trust in the LORD, then we will seek Him in every trial, and these times will drive us closer to God’s heart. We don’t have to be anxious; we can resist discouragement and depression. If we have faith, then we know that God is in control and will use the situation for our good and His glory. We can rest in Him because He cares for us.

Abram lapsed in his faith, but God used his failure to teach him. Abram was still under construction, and so are we!