Online Bible Study: Genesis 12

Abram's Lie: Online Bible Study analyzing Genesis 12: 10-18

Background Scriptures: Genesis 12. Reference Scriptures: Genesis 12:10-18

"Tell them you are my sister!"

Today we continue in our Online Bible Study series: Messed Up, Still Used by God.

This week, we are on lesson 2, where we will begin our look into the life (and flaws) of Abraham, the father of many nations. 

God made a covenant with Abram as we will see at the beginning of Genesis 12. We will also see how the Lord remained faithful to that promise, even when Abraham messed up.

Question to Ponder:

Is it ever okay to lie?

• No, the truth shall set you free!
• Yes, if it doesn't hurt anyone.
• Maybe, depends on the situation.

Read as Abram (not Abraham just yet) shares his account and reasons for lying. To get the best out of this study, grab your bible so that you can read the referenced scriptures. There are questions throughout the lesson! So grab a pen and some paper to jot down your answers!

Part I: Abram shares his blessing

"My story begins with the covenant. The Lord says to me: “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”  (Genesis 12: 1-3)

"To that, I simply obeyed. I took my wife and all that I owned, my nephew Lot went with me as well, and we left. I traveled through Canaan, a land the Lord said He would bless me with. I built several altars to Him as I traveled towards the Negev."  (Genesis 12:7-9)

What all does the Lord's blessing or covenant to Abram includes?

Part II: Abram shares what went wrong

"There was a severe famine in the land, so we had to go down to Egypt. Now my wife, is extremely beautiful. During those times, a man could easily lose his life just so that someone could take his wife. So, I told Sarah, (well, Sarai at the time.) Tell them you are my sister. That way I won’t have to worry about being killed AND they will treat me well because they have interest in you. (but most importantly, I won't die!) (Genesis 12:10-13)

We got to Egypt, and just as I expected…. everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty including Pharaoh’s people. And next thing you know, I’m getting all kinds of gifts from Pharaoh because of his interest in her. (Genesis 12: 14-16)

What do you believe is Abram's flaw?

Part III: Abram explains God's response.

"So, what did God do? Well, nothing to me. BUT, He sent a terrible plague upon Pharaoh and his household because he had taken Sarai as his wife. (Genesis 12:17) 

"Pharaoh was UPSET  as well. I mean, he didn't know she was my wife. Yet, he is suffering some pretty severe consequences because my lie. (You can read his response in Genesis 12: 18-19.) He had me escorted out Egypt along with Sarai and all my possessions. "

What were the consequences of Abram's lie?

Don’t just read my story. Learn from it! Here are a few key points to jot down:

1. When you inquire what you believe to be a problem or issue, consult the Lord on how to handle it. I tried to fix what I thought would be a problem in the wrong way.

   
   

2. Trust the Lord to fight your battles! God had already told me that He would bless those who bless me and curse those who curse me. My attempt to protect myself shows a lack of trust or faith in the Lord's promise to protect me.

   
   

3. Doing the wrong thing, even if for good reasons, leads to negative outcomes. My lie put others in harm's way. My wife for one, Pharaoh and his household (who were clueless on my deceit). All could have been avoided had I just let God handle it.

Have you ever had a problem that you tried to fix the wrong way? How did things turn out? What were the consequences? What did you learn from Abram's lie?

"My lie, although it caused a lot of issues, showed my lack of faith. But because of the gracious God that we serve, it did not affect my covenant with Him. This story is one of my MANY mistakes. So return next week and learn how I again meddle with one of the promises of the covenant.

Next lesson: Saturday, January 18, 2024

© January 2025. OaToya James. All Rights Reserved.