# 104 Distractions, Fear, and Doubt Will Come

The Book of Genesis Day 104 Ge 12:11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. 12 "Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you." The famine has driven Abram and his entourage to Egypt. Before we are too harsh in our judgment of Abram here, let’s recall an episode with Peter. Jesus invited him to walk on water with the simple command, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and was walking on water until the wind became boisterous. That’s when fear and doubt gripped him and he began to sink. But Jesus was right there to bail him out. This is what is happening to Abram right now. He has become distracted by outside circumstances; he becomes afraid and does a terrible thing to his wife Sarai. It was the practice of Egyptian princes to kill the husbands of beautiful women, and then confiscate the women for themselves. Abram knew this and was afraid for his own life, so he asked Sarai to tell the Egyptians that she was his sister. That way, they would still confiscate her, but would do no harm to him. (Not exactly loving your wife as Christ loved the church. Not exactly trusting God’s promise of giving the land of Canaan to Abram’s descendants. Abram was gripped with fear for his very life and with that fear came the great enemy of faith…..doubt. One can almost hear Satan whispering in Abram’s ear, “Did God really say HE would give the land of Canaan to your descendants?” If so, what are you doing in this strange land? Dead men have no descendants.” So Abram decides to take matters into his own hands, and to protect his life, his gives Sarai away to the Egyptians. Now, let’s not be too hard on Abram, after all, to be truthful, most of us would still be in Haran, afraid to take that first step of faith into Canaan! The lesson here is simple. Be on guard! As you exercise faith by trusting in God’s Word and His promises, fearful distractions will arise. They will be boisterous, like the waves with Peter, demanding your attention. About the only voice you will hear at times like this will be the devil, and his proverbial, “Did God really say?” Recognize this, and before you panic and act foolishly like Abram, turn to the Word, just as Jesu s did in the wilderness when He was tempted. Remember His response? “It is written! Pray: Lord, fear is a great enemy of my God-given faith, help me to hear Your voice above all the din, and fear not!