seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 12:17 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
This came from the easy English commentary.
Sarai could not escape from Pharaoh’s court, but God saved her. Abram should have told the truth about Sarai when he arrived in Egypt. If he had done that, this trouble would not have happened.
Pharaoh realized that Abram’s God had punished him and his family. Pharaoh wanted to prevent further trouble. So he told his men to make Abram leave Egypt. But Abram had gained many possessions that Pharaoh had given to him. When Abram left Egypt, he took those possessions with him. So Abram became richer because he received goods from Egypt.
Many years later, a similar thing happened. Abram’s descendants lived in Egypt for 400 years. And when they left Egypt, they gained many possessions. (See Exodus 12:35-36.) They took those possessions with them. So God’s people became richer because they received goods from Egypt.
Pharaoh realized that Abram’s God had punished him and his family. Pharaoh wanted to prevent further trouble. So he told his men to make Abram leave Egypt. But Abram had gained many possessions that Pharaoh had given to him. When Abram left Egypt, he took those possessions with him. So Abram became richer because he received goods from Egypt.
Many years later, a similar thing happened. Abram’s descendants lived in Egypt for 400 years. And when they left Egypt, they gained many possessions. (See Exodus 12:35-36.) They took those possessions with them. So God’s people became richer because they received goods from Egypt.
Studylight.org explains it this way.
God blessed Abram even when he didn't do what he should. God continued to protect Abram, even when Abram acted like a liar. God did not call back His promise to Abram because the promise depended on God, not on Abram.
What is this you have done to me? Sadly, a pagan king had to rebuke Abram. The king shows Abram if he trusted in God and told the truth, everything would have been all right.
But God is in the business of growing Abram into a man of great faith, and this requires circumstances where Abram must trust God. Faith is not a mushroom that grows overnight in damp soil; it is an oak tree that grows for a thousand years under the blast of the wind and rain.
What is this you have done to me? Sadly, a pagan king had to rebuke Abram. The king shows Abram if he trusted in God and told the truth, everything would have been all right.
But God is in the business of growing Abram into a man of great faith, and this requires circumstances where Abram must trust God. Faith is not a mushroom that grows overnight in damp soil; it is an oak tree that grows for a thousand years under the blast of the wind and rain.
