Day 9- Abram in Egypt

Because of a famine, Abram took his family to Egypt.

Before they entered Egypt he says to Sarai, his wife, "I know what a beautiful woman you are.  When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'this is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live.  Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you. " 12:11-13

First off- this woman was 65 years old by this time! It's incredible how different the age span was then, for her to be in the prime of her life at the age of 65..

We just read God's promises to Abram, and He still needs to learn that God will protect him.  How quickly we forget!

As a girl, I wonder what was going through Sarai's mind at that point.  Could you imagine if you husband came up to you and said, "I know you're beautiful, please tell them you're my sister so that they will take you in the Pharaoh's harem so that I can live and be treated well."
Scripture doesn't say anything about what happened to Sarai while she was in the Pharaoh's palace.  Abram received gifts, cattle, sheep, and servants from the Pharaoh because Sarai was there.  I can't even imagine what that would've been like. Harems were not always about sex.  It was also about status.  The man owned the most beautiful ladies in the country.  There are so many questions...How long was Sarai there? Was she terrified? Was she mistreated by the other women?

I read the stories in the bible and am reminded to be grateful to live in modern day Canada.  To imagine living in a time and a place where women are basically considered property, and are treated as such...
I just can't.

As Sarai is in the Pharaoh's palace, God follows through on his promise to protect Abram and his family.  He inflicts diseases on Pharaoh and his household. I love how God reveals the truth to the Pharaoh.  The Pharaoh  summons Abram and challenges him, "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?" v18
The Pharaoh then sends them on their way.  This Pharaoh was smart- he knew not to mess with God.  I wish there was more respect for God's power nowadays.  It seems that we forget that He not only created the world, but He also wiped out humankind except for one man and his family because of the world's wickedness.
The richness of the awe and respect for God in the Old Testament is something that I find refreshing.

Some people call it legalism when in fact, it's really the fear of the Lord. We should have more of it in our bones. We forget who He is. We should not forget his mercy and grace- and delve into a life of works, but we should not sit back and pretend that God is like our golden retriever dog who loyally protects, loves and follows us. Yes, He loves us unconditionally;  He sent his son to be executed in a gruesome way so that we could accept his mercy and grace.  He did that because He is so great and good, that we are not worthy without Jesus.

God is all knowing, ever present and all-powerful.   Don't forget the awe- in Awesome God.