Single lesson
Abram and Sarai in Egypt
Genesis 12:10–20
This lesson helps students trace Genesis 12:10–20 carefully, following Abram’s request, Sarai being taken into Pharaoh’s house, the Lord’s action because of Sarai, and Pharaoh sending Abram away.
Before you teach
A severe famine leads Abram to go to Egypt as a foreigner. Near Egypt, Abram tells Sarai what he fears the Egyptians will do and asks her to say she is his sister so that it may go well with him and he may live. The passage then shows the results of that request.
Students will be able to sequence Genesis 12:10–20, identify Abram’s stated reason for his request to Sarai, and explain the chain of outcomes from Sarai being taken to Pharaoh sending them away.
Welcome: Listen for problem, choice, and outcome
6 minExplain that this is a difficult account, and students will study it by following the order of the text closely. Ask them to listen for three things as the passage is read: the problem that begins the story, the request Abram makes, and what happens afterwards to Sarai, Pharaoh, and Abram.
Genesis 12:10, Genesis 12:13, Genesis 12:15, Genesis 12:17, Genesis 12:20
Read and explain: Abram states his fear and his request
9 minRead Genesis 12:10–13 aloud. Clarify that famine means severe lack in the land, and Abram goes to Egypt as a foreigner. Then stay close to Abram’s words: he says the Egyptians may kill him and let Sarai live, so he asks her to say she is his sister so that it may be well with him and he may live.
Genesis 12:10, Genesis 12:11, Genesis 12:12, Genesis 12:13
Discuss: Follow the full chain of events
9 minRead Genesis 12:14–20 and trace the chain in order. Abram asks Sarai to say she is his sister, Sarai is taken into Pharaoh’s house, Abram receives goods for her sake, the Lord afflicts Pharaoh and his house because of Sarai, and Pharaoh rebukes Abram and sends them away. Help students notice that Sarai is taken into Pharaoh’s house and that the Lord acts because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
Genesis 12:13, Genesis 12:15, Genesis 12:16, Genesis 12:17, Genesis 12:18, Genesis 12:19, Genesis 12:20
Make and respond: Cause-and-result chart
10 minStudents make a five-step chart with a verse reference beside each step. They write or draw: famine in the land, Abram’s request to Sarai, Sarai taken into Pharaoh’s house, the Lord afflicting Pharaoh’s house because of Sarai, and Pharaoh sending Abram away. Invite pairs to explain how one event leads to the next in the passage.
Genesis 12:10, Genesis 12:13, Genesis 12:15, Genesis 12:17, Genesis 12:20
Closing: What the passage shows
6 minReview the account with careful wording from the text. Abram made a request for his own wellbeing and life, Sarai was taken into Pharaoh’s house, the Lord acted because of Sarai, and Pharaoh confronted Abram over what he had done. Finish with a brief recap from students, using the verse order to support each point.
Genesis 12:13, Genesis 12:15, Genesis 12:17, Genesis 12:18, Genesis 12:19, Genesis 12:20
Questions to explore
What problem led Abram to go to Egypt, and how is his move described?
Start with the first verse and use its wording about the famine and Abram living there as a foreigner.
Genesis 12:10
What exactly did Abram ask Sarai to say, and what result did he say he wanted for himself?
Quote or closely restate Abram’s own words, including both the request and his reason that it might go well with him and he might live.
Genesis 12:13
How does the passage show that Sarai’s situation matters in this account, not only Abram’s?
Notice who was taken into Pharaoh’s house, and notice that the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
Genesis 12:15, Genesis 12:17
Make, think or respond
Cause-and-Result Verse Chart
What you’ll need
- plain paper
- pens or pencils
- markers
- Bible text
- ruler
Try it together
- Divide a page into five boxes or a simple flow chart.
- In each box, write or draw one step from the account and add the matching verse reference.
- Draw arrows between the boxes to show the order from Abram’s request to Pharaoh sending them away.
- Discuss in pairs how each step leads to the next and which verses show Sarai, Abram, Pharaoh, and the Lord in the account.
This chart keeps students close to Genesis 12:10–20 and helps them see the ordered outcomes of Abram’s request, including Sarai being taken and the Lord acting because of her.
Adapt for your group
- For younger secondary students, provide the five verse references and ask them to match each one to a short event summary before making the chart.
- For older students, ask them to add one sentence under each box stating whether it shows a problem, a request, a result, the Lord’s action, or Pharaoh’s response.
An optional closing prayer
You might pray: “Lord, thank you for showing us what happened in this account. Help us read it carefully, learn from the choices and outcomes here, and remember that you acted because of Sarai.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Genesis 12
10 There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in the land.
11 When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look at.
12 It will happen that when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me, but they will save you alive.
13 Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.”
14 When Abram had come into Egypt, some Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
15 The princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
16 He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
17 Yahweh afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
18 Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife?
19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, see your wife, take her, and go your way.”
20 Pharaoh commanded men concerning him, and they escorted him away with his wife and all that he had.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.