Abraham: Following In The Footsteps Of Faith
Sermon #3
Genesis 12:10-20
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PATH TO EGYPT
Intro: We have before us this evening what is probably the
saddest event in the entire life of Abraham. We see him
making a decision that will bring tremendous trouble into his
life and into ours as well. Our text tells that during a time of
famine in Canaan, Abram took his family and moved to the
land of Egypt.
Now, in the Bible, Egypt is always presented to us as a
picture and a type of the world. It was where the children of
Israel were held in bondage to Pharaoh for 400 years. Even
after they were delivered by the power of God, they still longed
for what they had left behind in Egypt, Ex. 16:3. That's just
like us! Regardless of how the Lord blesses us, there is still a
part of us that looks back longingly to the world we have left
behind.
As we see this man make his journey into Egypt, there are
some truths about the path he took to Egypt that we need to
notice this evening. Tonight, I want to preach for a few
minutes about The Truth About The Path To Egypt.
I. V. 10 IT IS ALWAYS A DOWNWARD PATH
(Ill. When a believer leaves Canaan (The place of victory
and blessing) to go to Egypt (The world), it always leads
him down. Ill. Jonah - Jonah 1:1-5. Note: Amos described
it as a low place as well, Amos 2:10; 3:1.)
A. It Led Him Down From The Land Of Promise - The
land of Canaan represented God's Best for Abram.
Canaan land was where he was supposed to be!
(Note: There is no place more precious than the place
God wants you to be! Ill. Joseph - Gen. 50:20.)
B. It Led Him Down From The Land Of Preparation -
The famine in Canaan was not a punishment for sin,
rather it was a test of faith. (Contrast with Ruth 1) He
left God's best and ran away from God's test. Real
faith will always be tested. The great test is to submit to
the test and trust God instead of running away! (Ill. The
Widow of Zarephath - 1 Kings 17) Abram was to
choose the uncertainty of Canaan over the abundance
of Egypt.
C. It Led Him Down From The Land Of Provision - God
had promised to bless Abram in Canaan, Gen. 12:2.
Canaan was also the place of God's rest for Abram.
Only there could he rest in the arms of providence and
trust God to take care of him. (Ill. The best place to be
is where the Lord places you, even if it is difficult - Ill.
Elijah - 1 Kings 17:4, 9 - "There")
II. V. 11-15 IT IS ALWAYS A DISHONEST PATH
A. Abram Birthed A Lie - It is a sad day when a believer
turns away from the truth o embrace a lie. This may be
the saddest episode in Abraham's life, and it forever
preserved in the word of God. We can learn from his
mistake! (Note: We all have those times when we birth
a lie in our hearts to try and justify the things we do and
allow in our lives.. It is a sad day when it happens!)
B. Abram Became The Lie - After he told the lie, he
began to live the lie! One lie always leads to another!
(Ill. This is clearly seen in David's lies and actions
following his adultery with Bathsheba - 2 Sam. 11.)
Your lies always affect your life!
C. Abram Believed The Lie - He came to believe the lie
he had fabricated more than the truth he had received
from God. Verse 12 tells us that Abram was worried
about something that could never happen. He could
not die because God's promise to him had not been
fulfilled, Gen. 12:2-3. (Note: This always sin's way,
Gen. 3:1-6 - Eve sinned because she believed the
devil's lies more than she believed God. Peter fell
because he believed his own lies more than he believed
the Lord's word - Mark 14:30-31.)
III. V. 15-17
IT IS ALWAYS A DISASTROUS PATH
A. Because Of The Potential - Abram's sin had the
potential to cause others to fall. Pharaoh could have
taken Sarai to be his wife! (Note: When a believer goes
to Egypt spiritually, it causes others to fall away or stay
away. Ill. Ghandi said that the reason he never became
a Christian was other Christians!)
B. Because Of The Punishment - Abram's sin brought
God's hand of judgment into the situation! (Note:
Wouldn't it be a shame to know that our sin caused a
believer to stumble or a sinner to be confirmed in his
decision for hell? Ill. Matt. 18:6)
C. Because Of The Profits - The Bible tells us that Abram
left Egypt with more than when he entered. This is not
always the case, Ill. The Prodigal - Luke 15: 11-24, but
sometimes the believer will prosper in the far country.
However, those things that people think are gain are
really often loss! Among the servants Abram acquired
while there was an Egyptian girl named Hagar, Gen.
16:1-3. She became a problem for Abraham and Sarah
and Abraham's sin with her still has consequences in
the world tonight. The lesson here is this, "What we
think are the world's best blessings often become
life's greatest burdens." (Ill. Matt. 6:19-21)
IV. V. 18-20 IT IS ALWAYS A DISAPPOINTING PATH
(Ill. The world and all of its allurements can never satisfy
the soul that has ever tasted of the goodness of the Lord!)
A. Because Of The Testimony It Forfeits - Abram lost
his testimony in Egypt. He is even told by Pharaoh,
"Take her and go!" He was literally kicked out of the
world by the world! Lost people never forget a ruined
testimony! They may never remember your good
works, but they will never forget your failures! (Ill. What
gets more air time, Peter's preaching at Pentecost, or
his denial of Christ? What about David and the Ark, or
David and Bathsheba?)
B. Because Of The Things It Forgets - In Egypt, Abram
had no altar, he offered no sacrifices and he lifted up no
prayers. He totally left God out of all that he was doing!
When in the world, the child of God lives like the world.
That is a tragedy within itself! God, and all that pertains
to Him are neglected and ignored! You see, no man
can serve 2 masters - Matt. 6:24.
C. Because Of The Tragedy It Fosters - Instead of
bringing the light of the one true God into the darkness
of Egypt, Abram only brought more darkness! He was
not "salt and light" as he should have been! (Note:
When we walk out of Canaan in Egypt, we cannot be
what God has called us to be, Matt. 5:13-16! It is
always a tragedy when believers leave the world worse
off than it was when they found it!)
Conc: Where is your tent pitched this evening? Are you
camping Canaan, firmly fixed in the land of blessing, victory
and testimony, or have you gone down to Egypt? All it takes
to get to Egypt is a little compromise here and there and before
you know it, you are miles away from the Lord. You will never
prosper as long as you are not where God wants you to be!
My advise is for you to come home, rebuild your altars and live
for Jesus like He saved you to do.
