"Now there was a famine in the land."
But Abram had just arrived! So, after what was probably a relatively short stay, they had to be on the move again. Egypt had the Nile, so they always had food. To Egypt they would go.
An exact parallel, or foretelling, if you will, of what would happen to Israel itself several generations later. Down to Egypt because of a famine in the land.
Sarai is 65. And yet, as independent evidence of the age situation in the ancient times, she is evidently still beautiful enough for men to desire her. And men in pagan areas would kill for a beautiful woman. What David did with Bathsheba was not that uncommon among the people of the time. Take the woman and make sure the husband is killed.
So Abram is nervous. Sarai really is his half-sister, so he instructs her to simply say to people that she is his sister! But then it backfires. Sarai is noticed by the Pharaoh's officials, who praise her to Pharaoh, who then takes her into the palace. His evident intent is to make her one of his wives. In return, Abram is given more livestock and servants.
Through the Lord's work this is found out and Pharaoh is none too happy! He confronts Abram, who then tells him the truth. "Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, an they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had."
It is to the credit of this Pharaoh that he evidently did not take back what he had given Abram for Sarai!
And so Abram returns to the Negev, a richer man by far. In fact, the combination of his flocks and herds with Lot's is sapping the land. There is not enough space for both groups together.
It is Abram's suggestion to divide the land, and he gives Lot the choice of where to go. Lot chooses what looks the best to him -- the land down on the plain, rich and lush.
Not far from Sodom...
And the men of Sodom were already known to be evil and wicked in their actions, "sinning greatly against the Lord."
And then the Lord Himself speaks to Abram, and makes a remarkable promise. Although Sarai is barren, the Lord tells Abram that "all the land thatyou see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted."
Anyone for counting the Jews through history? Remarkably, they are the ONLY ancient people to have survived as a race, an ethnic group, and a religion -- all three. Where are the Assyrians, or the Hittites, or the Canaanites...? Even the Egyptians are combinations of all sorts of other people now. But not the Jews. They know who they are. So do we. So does God.
As you read through the story of Abram, notice that whenever he stops for a time, the first thing he does is build an altar to the Lord. The Lord is first in his life.
Here is the next section of the Abraham essay, which has to do with these events:
[ June 12, 2002, 01:35 AM: Message edited by: Helen ]
But Abram had just arrived! So, after what was probably a relatively short stay, they had to be on the move again. Egypt had the Nile, so they always had food. To Egypt they would go.
An exact parallel, or foretelling, if you will, of what would happen to Israel itself several generations later. Down to Egypt because of a famine in the land.
Sarai is 65. And yet, as independent evidence of the age situation in the ancient times, she is evidently still beautiful enough for men to desire her. And men in pagan areas would kill for a beautiful woman. What David did with Bathsheba was not that uncommon among the people of the time. Take the woman and make sure the husband is killed.
So Abram is nervous. Sarai really is his half-sister, so he instructs her to simply say to people that she is his sister! But then it backfires. Sarai is noticed by the Pharaoh's officials, who praise her to Pharaoh, who then takes her into the palace. His evident intent is to make her one of his wives. In return, Abram is given more livestock and servants.
Through the Lord's work this is found out and Pharaoh is none too happy! He confronts Abram, who then tells him the truth. "Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, an they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had."
It is to the credit of this Pharaoh that he evidently did not take back what he had given Abram for Sarai!
And so Abram returns to the Negev, a richer man by far. In fact, the combination of his flocks and herds with Lot's is sapping the land. There is not enough space for both groups together.
It is Abram's suggestion to divide the land, and he gives Lot the choice of where to go. Lot chooses what looks the best to him -- the land down on the plain, rich and lush.
Not far from Sodom...
And the men of Sodom were already known to be evil and wicked in their actions, "sinning greatly against the Lord."
And then the Lord Himself speaks to Abram, and makes a remarkable promise. Although Sarai is barren, the Lord tells Abram that "all the land thatyou see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted."
Anyone for counting the Jews through history? Remarkably, they are the ONLY ancient people to have survived as a race, an ethnic group, and a religion -- all three. Where are the Assyrians, or the Hittites, or the Canaanites...? Even the Egyptians are combinations of all sorts of other people now. But not the Jews. They know who they are. So do we. So does God.
As you read through the story of Abram, notice that whenever he stops for a time, the first thing he does is build an altar to the Lord. The Lord is first in his life.
Here is the next section of the Abraham essay, which has to do with these events:
[ June 12, 2002, 01:35 AM: Message edited by: Helen ]
