“Because of You” (Gen 12:10-20)

(vs13) "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you."

Read Gen 12:10-20.

Abraham erroneously trusted himself when confronted with a great challenge. Instead, we must believe in God the Savior, rather than rely on our schemes and compromises to His will.

1. “There was a famine in the land” (vs10). Famines and hardships bring us to trial, to see if we will be faithful, and to reveal the faithfulness of God. Even though we fail in sin, He abides faithful and fails not.
   1. His promise is good.
2. “He said to Sarai his wife” (vs11). Seven times in this text, the term “wife” is used to show that God OBVIOUSLY wanted to have Sarai bring forth seed by Abram. He is saying, “I need no help protecting and providing for you. I'm the God of impossibilities”. This is hope for safety and fruit.
3. “Beautiful countenance” (vs11). True, Sarai had beauty, but God protects us and not human schemes. Lean on the Lord and not your own way at saving yourself. Lean on Christ:
   1. not the work of your hands
   2. not the power of your strength
   3. not your will
4. “They will kill me” (vs12). Let fears bring you to Christ, rather than to scheming after the flesh. Fear should lead us to Him who says, “Fear not”, and not to the folly of unbelief.
5. “Live because of you” (vs13). We live because of God and not people, lest men have the glory and our reverence. Promotion comes from the Lord, so we are FREE from slavery to men's opinions to serve Christ. They can't give you what only He gives. He says, “Exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. God is Judge: He puts down one and exalts another” (Ps 75:6-7).
6. “taken to Pharaoh's house” (vs15). Abraham's salvation spared his life, but cost him bitter night's sleep, as he lost his wife, the woman he loved. Self-salvation NEVER improves our situation; it always brings grief. God alone can turn the night to sunshine; we don't have the power to make good out of evil.
7. “The Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house” (vs17). God saved Abram; Abram didn't save himself. If this is ALWAYS the case, then why not believe God and hope in His work, His promise, and His Spirit? It is better to believe before I sin than after. It is BETTER to hope in God than men. Ps 118:6 says, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
8. “All that he had” (Gen 12:20). We get richer, even though we sin, because God is for us. He enriches us, rather than destroying us by our experiences. Trust so good a God who brings GOOD from evil. Joseph, a picture of Christ, said, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones. And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them” (Gen 50:20-21).