March 27, 2017
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Reading along with us in Genesis? Here’s today’s reading:
Genesis 16 (ESV)
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her… Continue Reading
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It makes sense that because the Lord told Abram (ten years earlier in Genesis 15:5) his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, that Sarai, who was past childbearing years and barren would see this as a major dilemma and want to do something to solve it.
The solution? Hagar, her servant!
This soon-to-be surrogate mother was Sarai’s answer to God’s promise to Abram. But when Hagar became pregnant, she looked down on Sarai and things go from bad to worse.
Isn’t that just like our lives? Oh how quickly we can get caught in the mud when we should have stayed on the road. But the Lord meets us in that mud and steers us in the right direction and back on course.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
Thank you for your faithfulness, Father. Help me to diligently seek you. Help me to walk in the Spirit so I won’t gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Lead me to still waters and restore my soul when I stray. Guide me in your truth and sanctify me with your Word. Amen.
How difficult it is to trust in God’s timing…our finite minds trying to comprehend the plans of an infinite God. But, God still has mercy and compassion towards us when we just can’t seem to wait for His timing…
Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. Wondering if he thought to consult God on the details of this new plan. Love that Jesus speaks to Hagar and reveals the struggles of her son and descendents, and she can see that God sees her. ” You are the God who sees me,” for she said, ” I have now seen the One who sees me.” That is why the well has been called Beer Lhai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. ❤️ Love that!
I read Ephesians 4 this morning.
I am appreciating the honest recording of the lives of Abram and Sarai, the good and the not so flattering…..a lot happened on this planet because of this decision….