Genesis 12:10

12:10-20 This episode shows that God would not allow Abram to jeopardize his promises. Just after Abram’s obedience to the call, a famine tested his weak faith. God delivered him and his family, even though Abram foolishly used deception rather than trusting in God to preserve him in Egypt. • This story deliberately parallels Israel’s later bondage in Egypt. Because of a famine (Gen 12:10 // Gen 47:13), Abram/Israel went to Egypt (Gen 12:10 // Gen 47:27); there was an attempt to kill the males and save the females (Gen 12:12 // Exod 1:22); God plagued Egypt (Gen 12:17 // Exod 7:14–11:10); Abram/Israel plundered Egypt (Gen 12:16 // Exod 12:35-36); they were expelled (Hebrew shalakh, “send”; Gen 12:19-20 // Exod 12:31-33) and ascended to the Negev (Gen 13:1 // Num 13:17, 22). Israel was to believe that God would deliver them from bondage in Egypt through the plagues because their ancestor had already been rescued from bondage in Egypt. 12:10-13 Abram’s scheme was rooted in fear that jeopardized his family and God’s promises. Abram was not walking by faith when he went to Egypt. He stopped building altars and his deceptiveness took center stage. Deception would plague his family throughout Genesis (26:1-11; 27:1-29; 29:15-30; 30:34-36; 31:6-11; 37:18-35; 39:7-20). • Abram’s plan was probably based on a social custom whereby a brother arranged the marriage of his sister (cp. 24:29-61). Abram may have thought that any potential suitor would have to deal with him, giving him time to leave with Sarai. He did not count on Pharaoh’s acting without negotiation (12:14-16). 12:10 The Nile River provided ample irrigation, so Egypt was often the last region to suffer from famine.