M-G: 1.3.11 // Pray Before You Leap, Genesis 12:10

Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. 

When Abram left Haran for Canaan the LORD told him to do so (Gen 12:4). But while in the land a severe famine struck. The LORD didn’t tell him to pick up and head into Egypt that was all on Abram. He made a decision to make a move based on the pressing circumstances at hand rather than the hand of Providence. By doing so Abram unnecessarily exposed Sarai to the hazards of the world (Egypt), jeopardizing the promise of a great nation, a great name, and all the families of the earth being blessed (Gen 12:1-3). Whether Abram understood at this time or not, the bloodline of Christ would begin with Abram and Sarai (Mt 1:1). 

For Pharaoh to know Sarai intimately would have been an abomination; this wasn’t going to happen! The LORD made sure of it by bringing a plague specifically for Pharaoh’s house alone. Abram and company got booted out of Egypt.     

When our next move is based on circumstances rather than God telling us to go or to stay, we may be placing our known and unknown future blessings in peril because of being fidgety and fearful of our circumstances. We have no idea what God has in store for us or the ripple effect of our actions. Nothing enters a believer’s life without God’s approval, nothing, right? 

If we receive a green light from God, we need to weather the storm. Due to the famine, it may have made perfect logistical sense, from a human perspective, to move to Egypt until it ran its course, but stepping outside of God’s will because of the circumstances, for a believer, is insanity. Best to pray before you leap! This would make a great New Year's resolution for all of us. <><