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Patriarchs and Prophets
lack of that lofty faith and courage so often and nobly exemplified
in his life. Sarah was fair to look upon, and he doubted not that
the dusky Egyptians would covet the beautiful stranger, and that in
order to secure her, they would not scruple to slay her husband. He
reasoned that he was not guilty of falsehood in representing Sarah
as his sister, for she was the daughter of his father, though not of his
mother. But this concealment of the real relation between them was
deception. No deviation from strict integrity can meet God’s approval.
Through Abraham’s lack of faith, Sarah was placed in great peril.
The king of Egypt, being informed of her beauty, caused her to be
taken to his palace, intending to make her his wife. But the Lord,
in His great mercy, protected Sarah by sending judgments upon the
royal household. By this means the monarch learned the truth in the
matter, and, indignant at the deception practiced upon him, he reproved
Abraham and restored to him his wife, saying, “What is this that thou
hast done unto me? ... 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.”
Abraham had been greatly favored by the king; even now Pharaoh
would permit no harm to be done him or his company, but ordered a
guard to conduct them in safety out of his dominions. At this time laws
were made prohibiting the Egyptians from intercourse with foreign
shepherds in any such familiarity as eating or drinking with them.
Pharaoh’s dismissal of Abraham was kind and generous; but he bade
him leave Egypt, for he dared not permit him to remain. He had igno-
rantly been about to do him a serious injury, but God had interposed,
and saved the monarch from committing so great a sin. Pharaoh saw
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in this stranger a man whom the God of heaven honored, and he feared
to have in his kingdom one who was so evidently under divine favor.
Should Abraham remain in Egypt, his increasing wealth and honor
would be likely to excite the envy or covetousness of the Egyptians,
and some injury might be done him, for which the monarch would be
held responsible, and which might again bring judgments upon the
royal house.
The warning that had been given to Pharaoh proved a protection to
Abraham in his after-intercourse with heathen peoples; for the matter
could not be kept secret, and it was seen that the God whom Abraham
worshiped would protect His servant, and that any injury done him