From Failure to Direction
Genesis 15:4-6; 16:1-5; 17:3-6, 15-19
Abram was getting older and he was concerned that he had no son to inherit his possessions. God had promised that he would be the father of a great nation, and he felt like time was running out for him and Sarai. Abram was discouraged. The closest heir he had was a slave born in his house.
God renewed His promise that Abram would have a son and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the heavens. Abram believed and trusted that promise from God, and God considered him righteous because of his faith. When we believe and trust God through faith, God considers us righteous.
Time passed, and Abram and Sarai became impatient because they still did not have a son, so Sarai took matters into her own hands. She gave her servant girl, an Egyptian, to Abram. She told Abram to sleep with Hagar and Hagar’s children would become hers. Abram agreed and slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
Hagar turned against Sarai and became hateful to her. Sarai went to Abram and blamed him for not controlling Hagar. Abram gave Sarai permission to punish Hagar. Sarai punished Hagar, and Hagar became so angry that she ran away.
Abram and Sarai had taken matters into their own hands instead of waiting on God. When we follow our will instead of seeking and following God’s will, we are asking for trouble.
God appeared again to Abram when he was 99 years old and renewed His covenant promise to make Abram the father not only of a great nation but also of many nations. The name Abram means “exalted father.” God gave him a new name, Abraham, which means “father of a multitude.” Every time he heard his name, it would be a reminder of God’s promise.
God’s covenant with Abraham included Sarai. She was given a new name, Sarah. Both names mean “princess.” The name change was a renewal of the promise to Sarah that she would have a son.
Sarah and Abraham had tried to help God fulfill His promise of an heir in their own way. They failed miserably. They were not willing to wait on the Lord.
As we look back over our lives, have we been guilty of not waiting on the Lord and taking matters into our own hands? His way is worth waiting for! At times it seems that God is slow in fulfilling His promises, but we know from experience that God is always on time and His plans are better than ours. We need to trust God and allow Him to work in us and through us.
Johnston– Lessons in the BSL series for the fall quarter are being written by Virginia Johnston, a member of First Baptist Church, North Charleston, where her husband Dan is pastor.