The patriarchs · Genesis 12
Abram in Egypt
Barely arrived in Canaan, Abram faces a severe famine. He goes down to Egypt to live there for a while. Just before crossing the border, fear grips him. Sarai is very beautiful: “When the Egyptians shall see thee, … they will kill me.” He asks her to say she is his sister. Soon Pharaoh’s officials praise her beauty to the king, and Sarai is taken into Pharaoh’s house. Abram is treated well and receives sheep, oxen, donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels. But the LORD watches over Sarai: he strikes Pharaoh and his household with great plagues. The king summons Abram: “What is this that thou hast done unto me? Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?” He gives her back and sends him away with all he owns. The man of the promise has been rebuked by a pagan king.
What happens
- A severe famine drives Abram to Egypt Genesis 12:10
- Out of fear, Abram asks Sarai to say she is his sister Genesis 12:11–13
- Sarai is taken to Pharaoh, who showers Abram with gifts Genesis 12:15–16
- The LORD strikes Pharaoh and his house with great plagues Genesis 12:17
- “What is this that thou hast done unto me?”: Pharaoh confronts Abram Genesis 12:18–19
- Abram is sent away with his wife and all his possessions Genesis 12:20
Who is in this story
The lesson
Even a man of faith can give in to fear and lies to protect himself. But God protects Sarai in spite of Abram’s failure: his faithfulness does not depend on ours, because “if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful” (2 Tim 2:13).
And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
Quick quiz on this story
What drives Abram to go down to Egypt?
“There was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.” Genesis 12:10
What does Abram ask Sarai to do just before they enter Egypt?
Afraid of being killed because of her beauty, Abram tells her, “Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake.” Genesis 12:11–13
What does Abram receive from Pharaoh because of Sarai?
Pharaoh treated Abram well for her sake, and he received “sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.” Genesis 12:16
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