The Misled Monarch - 9/14/08pm

Genesis 12:10-20

What can we learn from Pharaoh?

He was deceived by lies (vv 11-15)
Much as Pharaoh was deceived, so we can be to. And being deceived can lead us into as much, and more, trouble as he received.
II Thessalonians 2:8-12 -Being deceived can result in eternal condemnation
II Timothy 4:3-4 -People will want their ears tickled and turn aside to deceptions
Colossians 3:5-11 -Do not lie to one another

He treated others well (v 16)
Pharaoh extended hospitality and saw to it that he treated others well. Even at the end, when he had justification for punishing Abram, he did not, but simply sent them on their way.
Matthew 22:34-40 -Love your neighbor
Matthew 7:12 -Do unto others…
Galatians 6:10 -Do good to all men, especially the household of faith

He had to deal with the consequences of another’s sin (vv 17-18)
Pharaoh had to deal with the consequences of another man’s sin. He was not the one who had lied, yet he had to deal with what came of it.
Genesis 3:14-19 -We have the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin
Genesis 39:6-20 -Joseph suffers from the sin of Potiphar’s wife

He took steps to correct the problem when he discovered it (vv 18-20)
When the problem became apparent, Pharaoh did not ignore it. He did what was necessary to solve it. We need to be sure to take the same approach: when it is our error, we much fix it, and when it is another’s, we work in love to help them correct it.
I Corinthians 5:1-5 -Paul took steps, the Corinthians were to take steps, the individuals involved should have taken steps
Galatians 6:1 -Restore the sinner GENTLY, watching yourself

He did not remain close to the sin, but put it away from himself (vv 18-20)
Sometimes we are tempted to remain close to what tempts us. Pharaoh did not! He put away and had no more to do with it. We should follow his example in this.
II Timothy 2:22 -FLEE youthful lusts, pursue righteousness
I Peter 4:2-4 -USED to do these things, but they no longer run with
those people
I Corinthians 6:9-11 -Such WERE some of you
I Corinthians 10:14 -FLEE idolatry



There are other lessons to be learned from the account as well.

Physical vs. spiritual thinking (vv 10-13)
Abram was thinking more about his physical condition and well being than about what was spiritually right. It is something that is easy to do, and as we can see, even this great man of God fell into this trap. We must be certain to first put our thoughts and focus on all things spiritual!
Philippians 3:18-19 -If your focus is the physical, you are an enemy of Christ
Hebrews 11:13-16 -The great people here looked to the spiritual, so
should we

Abram faced consequences for his sin (v 20)
Abram was sent away from Egypt, where he had sought relief from the famine, because of what he had caused. As he was sent away, so we will be sent from the presence of God for our sin.
Ezekiel 44:10-14 -The Levites who turned away were kept from the holy
things
Matthew 25:31-46 -The sheep and the goats

God is displeased with sin (v 17)
God does not like sin. He hates it. And, in serving Him, we are to hate it as well. We should strive to put away that which is evil, and strive to follow after what is good.
Isaiah 59:1-2 -Sin is repugnant to God, and you are separated from
Him by it
Romans 12:9 -Hate what is evil