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Sermon Notes

Tested Faith

Sunday 29 March 2026 Pastor Craig Ledbetter Genesis 12
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I. Introduction (Romans 15:4)

  • We are finishing Genesis chapter 12
  • Learning about Abraham and Sarah
  • God loves this couple - shows them off - both the good and the bad
  • They both will show us how to live by faith! And give us hope (Romans 15:4 ) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

II. Some things about faith (James 1:2-4)

  • Faith ain’t real until tested
  • James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
  • Like dreams, conspiracy theories, used cars, news reports!
  • EVERYONE will face overwhelming problems that WILL cause us to have to choose between faith and fear - there is no middle road!
  • Testing will happen at anytime, and can occur ALL the time - all our lives
  • Real, enduring faith and trust in God makes us perfect! Step by step

III. Most people quit following the Bible because they never learn what it means to live by faith (they just start living and deciding based on what they think is best):

  • They want to live by controlling their life
  • And by understanding what is going on
  • And by being happy and constantly rewarded with good things
  • They never expect problems, troubles, heartaches, disasters, loss, and failures to be PART of the Christian’s life
  • THAT is what Abram and Sarai are going to learn, and what WE must learn too!

IV. Review

A. Abram and Sarai have arrived in the Promised Land

  • Promised by God to THEIR descendants - their seed - ISRAEL
  • Not promised to Hagar’s children - ISHMAELITES, Arabs

B. Abram had started developing his own personal walk with God, worshipping God simply in spirit and in truth, praying, enjoying God

  • Without temples, idols, priests and traditions
  • Just a rough altar, and a substitutionary sacrifice in his place
  • They are enjoying envisioning all the children they were going to have and the promises of God being fulfilled to them and through them

V. Message

A. On to Bethel (Genesis 12:8)

  • “And he [ABRAM] removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD” - Genesis 12:8

  • They Abram and Sarai (and Lot) travelled 18 miles south of Sichem [MAP]
  1. They were on the move.
  2. Abram pitched his tent, which means he set up his camp
    • He and his wife are going on constant camping trips and he was in the middle between Bethel and Ai.
    • It was his lifestyle. He was a nomad, no permanent home.
  3. They will travel on foot for the rest of their lives never owning a home or plot of ground
    • Always a stranger in a strange land
    • Always a pilgrim going somewhere better
    • This world was not his home
  • And built another altar right away
  1. Bethel means God’s house, the place of God.
  2. It’s where he worshipped God AGAIN. Loved God and loved ENJOYING God!
    • He creates another place of worship
    • A set-apart place, special, holy, for sacrifice, not entertainment
    • And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord - worshipped God
  3. What caused Abram to worship?
    • His knowledge of God - knowing God
    • His fear of God
    • His awareness of the love of God for sinful people
  • The question is, what does it take for you to want to worship God?
  1. Is it moody, music, atmosphere, crowds, multimedia?
  2. Is it good times, blessings, winning the lotto, happy family?
  3. Those are all the WRONG reasons

B. Abram and Sarah kept going South (Genesis 12:9)

  • “And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south” - Genesis 12:9

  • The will of God for Abram was in Canaan [REMEMBER THIS]
  1. The fields and hills, the boring farms, and the dangerous culture of that day.
  2. Walk all over it and enjoy it
  3. You will be the safest IN the will of God
  • But Egypt was just over the horizon
  1. Egypt on the other hand, off in the distance, seemed so much more “civilized”, exciting, powerful.
  2. It was a powerful empire like Abram had left behind back in Ur of the Chaldees
  • Egypt is an important type, metaphor in the Bible - a symbol of something spiritual
  1. So if you start to study the types and the symbols in the Bible, Egypt, is a symbol of the world system, and is very attractive to our old nature.
  2. We Christians often get lured by the beauty of this world, not knowing where it will lead, or the problems that we will find when we follow the world instead of God’s will

C. A Famine in the Land (Genesis 12:10)

  • “And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land” - Genesis 12:10

  • Wait, What? A Famine?
  1. A famine in the very land of promise?
  2. Abram and Sarai were experiencing huge problems in the very middle of the perfect will of God - they were doing everything right, and yet things were going wrong
  • We don’t expect problems when we are doing everything right!
  1. Canaan was not flowing with milk and honey yet
  2. Canaan was dry and empty of grass for Abram’s sheep and camels
  3. His animals were dying
  4. It was scary - Abram and Sarai were getting scared
  5. They were facing starvation…
  6. We Europeans CANNOT relate to starvation - but more than 300 million people in our world are hungry every day of their lives!
  • Abram reacted wrongly
  1. We OFTEN make wrong choices when things get hard
    • We make moves that are in reaction to the problems - right out of ther place God wanted you to STAY
    • We make decisions that we probably will regret…
  2. He reacted to the famine by heading further south OUT of the Promised Land to a country of plenty - Egypt
  3. It was a natural thing to do
  4. Any normal person would go where water and grass and food was
  5. Where it was certainly more civilised than Canaan was
  6. BE CAREFUL HOW YOU REACT TO PROBLEMS AND SCARY SITUATIONS
  • Abram had quickly forgotten:
  1. That God had called them to come specifically to Canaan, not to Egypt
  2. That God had promised to take care of them and protect them in Canaan (Abram will forget THAT promise as well very soon)
  3. That God was in charge of the weather and the economy
  • What do you think Abram should have done?
  1. Answer: ASK GOD WHAT TO DO!

  2. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” - James 1:5

  3. Abram forgot to do that!
  4. It is one thing to worship God - it is far better to depend upon God and seek God’s constant direction and leading! Not just every once in a while!
  5. Abram is going to discover he makes MANY wrong decisions simply because he does not take time to ask GOD for direction, and clear instructions
  6. Ladies, you had better pray your husband is seeking GOD’S direction, and not just following his stomach!

D. Abram’s Faith was Put on Trial (Genesis 12:10)

  • There was famine in Caanan

  1. “And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land” - Genesis 12:10

  2. This famine began to affect all the grass in Canaan - the economy.
  3. This was a local famine, just in Canaan - it was not a world wide famine but very real
  • Abram was really tempted
  1. Tempted means lured, drawn away, enticed to do something other than what God expects you to do
  2. Abram was tempted to go back to Ur of the Chaldeans
  3. Tempted to disregard the promises of God that had brought him this far
  4. He is under pressure because hunger is hard.
  5. He is called out of plenty in Ur of the Chaldees to a place of famine.
  6. He was tested to see if he would be tempted to return to his home back in Ur of the Chaldees.
  • Abram Experienced a Test of His Faith / His Trust
  1. What does that mean?
    • I you are a bona-fide believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…
    • If you claim to follow the life and teachings of Jesus Christ…
    • You WILL be tested to see if your faith is real and solid and mature
    • You will be tempted to do your own thing instead of wait on God
    • You will find it HARD to discover the will of God and keep doing it Like, Trying to find the right man or woman to marry and then stay married Trying to go soul-winning, and keep soul-winning Trying to attend a Bible class, or discipleship, and stay in the class to the end Trying to be at church every Sunday and Wednesday
  2. So decide to rejoice in the temptation!
  3. James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
  4. To stay where you are - to learn contentment!

  5. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” - Philippians 4:11-13

  • Thankfully, he didn’t turn and go back to where he had come from

E. So, What Went Wrong? (Genesis 12:10-16)

  • He was afraid of hunger

  1. “And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land” - Genesis 12:10

  2. He steps OUT of God’s will - just briefly, but enough to put them in more danger
  3. And trusts his own wisdom instead of God’s wisdom - GOD had brought them to Canaan, and can be trusted to know what HE is doing!
    • Abram hears of food in Egypt.
    • So it seems like a good idea to go down to Egypt.
    • And he makes that decision to go OUT of Canaan and INTO Egypt
  4. Abraham is NOT Living by faith. He’s living by fear now.
  5. And your fears will often hurt your more than what you actually fear - REPEAT
  6. Know this… Abram does not abandon the will of God…
    • He only goes to “sojourn” in Egypt
    • He’s just going there for a little while - just a little backslidding
    • And so, he and Sarai went into Egypt.
    • He travelled 240 miles. Another long journey
    • He is just reacting to circumstances. Because that’s how we normally live. That’s how we naturally live. We react to our fears.
    • If only he knew what would be the result of his own lack of trust of God’s will
  • Abram was now afraid for his life (Genesis 12:11,12)
  1. Abram watches the men watching his wife!

    • “And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive” - Genesis 12:11,12

    • Abraham is about 76 years old, and Sarah is about 66 years old.
    • Abram and Sarai stand out - they are not from Ham
    • His wife was beautiful, she had fair complexion in Northern Africa.
    • Sarai was still very beautiful at 66 - you should be envious ladies!
    • He has become very powerful, very wealthy - all at risk of being mugged, abused for his wife
  2. Abram tosses out ALL his confidences in God - HE has to come up with a plan
    • His faith is still very immature - remember YOUR own immaturities
    • He had feared going hungry - anyone would
    • He now fears being killed by other men so they can have his wife!
    • A REAL and VALID fear
    • The Egyptians saw themselves as superior to all foreigners, and they would kill husbands to have their wives for themselves.
  3. So Abram is surmising and imagining and worrying about what MIGHT happen.
  4. He can buy food now, but he’s more in danger than ever.
  • Abram puts his wife’s life at risk (Genesis 12:11-13) - does not honour her, protect
  1. I don’t think Abram was thinking anything through - just reacting to his fears
  2. He loves Sarah, probably was hoping nothing would happen, and that they would just get through the famine and go North again, back into God’s will.
  3. He BEGS his wife what to put her life at risk for his life!

    • “And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee” - Genesis 12:11-13

    • “Tell people you are my sister and that we are just travelling together, so that they will not think you are my wife and kill me for you!”
    • He asks Sarai to conceal the truth to protect him - to lie for him
    • So that “I” might live
  4. By asking her to do that, he was only protecting himself, and he was leaving Sarah very vulnerable.
  5. Was he in REAL danger? YES
  6. Was what he ask Sarai to do RIGHT? NO! Obviously not!
  7. Abram did what HE thought best for HIMSELF, not for his wife, and not by faith!
    • He was trying to preserve himself, his own life, thinking God couldn’t be trusted
    • All of life, all living things, have this same Reaction, that is, self preservation.
    • Not a bad thing, or most everyone would be jumping off buildings all the time
  8. Abram will now struggle with fear after fear.
  9. Abram will have this same fear for years. Even this experience, that he is going to learn from, he does not learn from, because he will repeat the same actions based on his fear several times.
  • The Egyptians, and Pharaoh’s household notice Sarai (Genesis 12:14-16)

  1. “And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels” - Genesis 12:14-16

  2. Everyone was talking about this beautiful stranger from the north named Sarai
  3. Word got to Pharaoh, and she was recommended to her to be another one of his wives
  4. And because she says I’m his sister, they decide that she was free for the taking.
  5. And he starts planning the wedding!
  6. Pharaoh begins negotiations, for Sarah, to be his future wife.
  7. And pays Abram a dowry.
  8. Proverbs chapter 31 talks about the price of a virtuous woman - far above rubies
  9. And now… she’s about to be made another man’s wife. Even though she was already married. Which is adultery!

F. Sarai’s Submission to Abram

  • Sarai’s faith is also being tested
  • What should she do?
  1. Stand up to him and Tell him “NO WAY JOSE”?
  2. There may be a time to do that
  • This is when a woman’s faith / a wife’s faith becomes real - powerful
  1. Yes, Abram failed to protect her - brought her to Egypt and placed both in danger
  2. But Sarai needed great faith as well - do not ignore this part ladies!
  3. Is she going to trust Abram, or God, or her own wisdom?
  • Sarai Agrees to Lie - YEP!
  1. Feminists hate this act by Sarah - they skip over it - ignore it in the Bible
  2. Modern Bible “teachers” cater to women’s fears and say God was just silent about all this, but was not teaching anything of value
  3. Satan hates Sarah’s faith here, and submission (oh how that is a hated Bible word)
  4. The Bible is not justifying a man’s right or ability to abuse his wife
  5. But God uses every word to teach both men AND women, husbands AND wives how to live by faith! Showing us that it is never easy!
  6. She doesn’t know how this is all going to turn out - she has to trust God to work it out
  7. So, Sarai submitted to / obeyed her husband, and remember, God protected her
  8. Why? Because she trusted GOD - most women have no idea how to do that
    • Psalm 56:11 **In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
    • Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
  9. She held on to a meek and quiet spirit - not argumentative (1Peter 3:4-6) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
  10. Her trust in God made it possible for her to trust her husband - REPEAT
  11. You cannot just live in fear what they might do to you someday - all the movies and magazines and reels have terrorized people to the point where people can’t leave their houses for fear!
  • Ladies, those of you who are married, you are not just a spectator or an observer who is supposed to just watch your husband and see whether he succeeds or fails at life
  1. When you married your husband you committed to helping him through life, and so you have a part to play
  2. That does not mean allowing serious abuses
  3. But it also does not mean being only a critic but instead, a prayer partner and a supporter and a warrior on his behalf, especially when he is making unwise and wrong decisions like Abraham is about to do
  4. Remember, GOD wrote this down for our LEARNING! To give us HOPE!
  • Here are the Bible facts
  1. The best of men LIE - Abram did - all men (and women are liars to some degree)
    • Don’t be so surprised - and so do all you ladies when it suits you

    • “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged” - Romans 3:4

    • There will be many times where God is asking you to put up with your husband and pray for him and submit to him even though it is dangerous!
    • Faith ALWAYS faces dangers WITH GOD, not with perfect husbands!
  2. The most spiritual and mature of Christian men will struggle at times with unbelief
  3. Husbands will think of only themselves and ignore your needs
  4. You are going to get hurt, scared, abandoned, abused, ignored by everyone when you do right and try and live in the middle of the will of God
  • Abram Prospers? (Genesis 12:16)
  1. Not always a good sign

  2. “And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels” - Genesis 12:16

  3. Pharaoh started taking very good care of Abram since he was her brother and the one Pharaoh needed permission from to marry his “sister”
  4. Started giving him a huge dowry - made Abram very wealthy
  5. Abram had lied… and it was paying off BIG TIME
  6. And he couldn’t stop - he just KEPT lying about Sarai
  7. Sometimes it can be very profitable to lie, and think only of yourself

G. God Intervenes (Genesis 12:17)

  • “And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great [BIG] plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife” - Genesis 12:17

  • Pharaoh has to be stopped
  1. Abram is evidently not going to save his wife - so, God does!
  2. God doesn’t always intervene. And often lets us just go our own way. And reap our own consequences.
  3. But it is a good thing when God intervenes and turns our world upside down. And pulls the rug out from under us. And protects the innocent
  • God’s promises and covenants must be fulfilled
  1. Abram’s failure to trust God was not ever going to be allowed to ruin God’s covenant promises that God made to him
  2. And your failures cannot ruin God’s covenant promises that he made to you!
  • Plagued!
  1. God produces terrible plagues, health problems throughout Pharaoh’s house
  2. God made everyone in Pharaoh’s household very ill with a disease - a plague
  3. Everyone was sick except for Sarai
  4. His got Pharaoh’s attention!
  • Pharaoh was a smart man
  1. He did the research to find out WHEN the plague started
  2. And he noticed it was when Sarai had come.
  3. Now these plagues were not just really punishment, but they were an intervention to stop the marriage.
  4. That’s when Pharaoh figured out Sarai was not who Abram had said she was
  5. Sarai was not to blame here

H. Pharaoh is Very Upset! (Genesis 12:18-21)

  • “And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had” - Genesis 12:18-21

  • Pharaoh doesn’t blame Sarah for lying
  1. He obviously asked Sarah, who she really was, and found out the truth
  2. Sarai trusted God and thankfully GOD stepped in and intervened
  3. So Pharaoh approaches Abram and blames… Abram.
  • Very upset with Abram
  1. What have you done to me?
  2. Are you trying to destroy me? My kingdom?
  3. Are you trying to bring God’s wrath upon Egypt?
  4. Why didn’t you just tell me the truth? What a thing to ask a husband!
  5. Why didn’t you tell me she is your wife?
  6. Why say she is your sister?
  7. I would have SINNED by marrying your wife - that is adultery
  8. Every culture knows taking another man’s wife is so wrong!
  • Adultery was wrong then, and is wrong NOW
  1. Adultery is serious because marriage is serious.
    • Look at Exodus 20:13-14 Thou shalt not kill. **Thou shalt not commit adultery…
    • Leviticus 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
    • Proverbs 6:32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: He that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
  2. So Pharaoh rebukes Abram for bneing tricked into sinning!
  3. Now, in reality, Pharaoh wasn’t all that innocent either. He was taking beautiful women all the time. But that’s another story.
  4. So here is Pharaoh, a pagan, heathen king LECTURING Abraham of all people about ethics, and morality. WHAT A SAD COMMENTARY ON ABRAM’S MATURITY!
  • Abram has to learn he has nothing to fear but God
  1. Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy **shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

  2. “:28-31 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows” - Matthew 10

  • It was Time to Leave Egypt (Genesis 12:21)
  1. Genesis 12:21) And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
  2. Pharaoh commanded his men to stay away from Sarai
  3. And commanded Abram to LEAVE Egypt
    • A good thing - he needed to head back north to the Promised Land
    • Abram was not wanted in Egypt any more - and that was a good thing! He does not need to be welcome anywhere except where he is supposed to be!
    • God was driving Abram and Sarai back to Canaan!

VI. Summary and Conclusion

A. Abram and Sarai are GREAT examples

  • Abraham was a man of genuine faith, as well as genuine failure.
  1. A man of great faith, but ALSO a man of great failures - and that is okay!
  2. Men are at best only men
  3. GOD is our focus, not our failures
  • Sarai was an exceptional woman - I hope you agree!
  1. She was not upset that her life was at risk!
  2. She did not try and divorce Abram, or punish him for his selfishness and stupidity
  3. Sarai had to learn to trust God just like her husband was learning
  • If your spouse is saved and trying to live by faith… Even though he fails, be very glad
  • Ladies, you need to obey your husband and trust God more than your own fears!
  • Worship is vital but dependency on God is better
  • We are free to go our own way, but we are never free from the consequences of our choices. That’s why both Abraham and Sarah had to make right choices that usually don’t make sense and usually cost you personally
  • Fears are usually much more powerful than our faith when our faith has not grown into trust yet
  • Ungodly people often have better ethics and morality than we do so be careful when rejecting their rebuke when we lie and do not the truth
  • It is never right to lie and protect yourself but it usually is right to lie and protect the life of another - read about the midwives in Exodus chapter 1
  • No believer is tested only once, so expect testings and the trial of your faith regularly
  • Pray for wisdom about what to do when troubles come - constantly!
  • Stop fighting in the home - learn to trust GOD!
  • Gentlemen, never put your wife or family at risk.
  • Gentlemen, OUR selfish nature could and usually does hurt our wives and our families! Own up to. Apologise and seek forgiveness by the people we have hurt
  • To stay in the middle of God’s will, decide to do without…
  1. In marriage, do without perfection
  2. In ministry? Do without money and comforts
  3. In life, do without constantly changing locations and jobs and clothes and hair styles end games and TV sizes
  4. Be content where God has you and what you have! Philippians chapter 4:11

B. Jesus, the Messiah is our only Saviour - and the best of us NEED Him!

  • To forgive such deep, selfish sins
  • To change us to be more like Jesus
  • To save not just our souls, but our marriages, and our sanity
  • Would you like to know what it means to be born again?
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