Genesis12_14-16

Genesis 12:14-16

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.

When Abram entered Egypt, everything unfolded exactly as he had anticipated. In many ways, Abram was a smart and cautious man who understood the situation around him, even the implications of his wife’s beauty. From this detail, we see that Abram was a careful and strategic person. Everything that happened was within his expectations.

The Egyptians, including the princes of Pharaoh, saw Sarai because she was very beautiful. From this perspective, Abram may have led a large group into Egypt, since he attracted the attention of many local people, even those of higher rank. This suggests that Abram was a wealthy man at that time, and that he and his people lived a prosperous life.

Abram was almost eighty years old after departing from Haran at seventy‑five, and Sarai was also an older woman. Yet she remained beautiful and appeared young. Perhaps this was because she lived an easy and comfortable life that helped her maintain her appearance—something only a wealthy family could afford in ancient times. In other words, Abram possessed something like a small kingdom, and he was its leader.

Based on the actions of Pharaoh’s princes and Pharaoh’s favorable treatment of Abram, it seems that Pharaoh was a man driven by desire. The Egyptians acted according to what pleased their king.

Pharaoh gave Abram sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels. What Abram received shows that the social system of that time was built on slavery, since the servants were listed alongside the animals. This reflects the evil nature of a commercial world controlled by Satan. Pharaoh used animals and slaves to exchange for Sarai, a beautiful woman, through a form of hidden violence.

In reality, the essence of the world today is still similar to the world of Pharaoh. Many people remain under the bondage of Satan. Although the outward forms have changed, the inner nature remains the same.