How good are you at waiting? For me, it all depends. Waiting to get my ideal job? After a few arguments with God, I eventually was patient and received a wonderful blessing from Him. Waiting for Mr. Right (a.k.a. Chris) to show up in my life? Not too bad. Waiting on an empty stomach for my dinner to arrive at a restaurant? No chance!
In this week’s story, we see how Sarai and Abram tried to make their own plans when God wasn’t working fast enough for them. Sarai and Abram were tired of waiting for God to act. Through self-effort, they tried to fulfill God’s promises on their own. But God always fulfills His promises in His timing.
Sarai is frustrated that God has not provided an heir. So she concocts a plan to begin their family line through her servant Hagar. Abram agrees to follow through on Sarai’s plan. They are acting on common sense and the morals of the day. They don’t follow God’s direction for their lives. This shows us that human wisdom can lead us out of God’s will in many situations.
Look at the downward spiral that comes from this seemingly innocent decision: Hagar conceives. Hagar despises Sarai. Sarai blames Abram. Abram refuses to intervene. Sarai mistreats Hagar. All of this could have been avoided if Abram and Sarai had simply waited for God to fulfill His plan in His time. God’s way is the right way, and it never is the way of sin.
A distraught Hagar flees and heads toward Egypt, her homeland. The angel of the Lord pursues Hagar and finds her in the desert. This is no plain angel — this is the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. And Hagar recognizes Him as such.
The angel tells Hagar to go back to Sarai and submit to her. Probably not what she wanted to hear! He promises to bless Hagar with a son named Ishmael. This name means “God hears him.” Hagar praises God and calls Him “the God who sees me.” God saw Hagar and came alongside her. He saw her and heard her.
I love this principle from the lecture: God will find us where we are, not where we should be, and He will act to return us safely to His will. Hagar’s story spoke to me the most this week. God never leaves me and always takes care of me, even when I sin and try to run from Him and my problems. Even when I make a mess of things, God will rescue, redeem and restore me.
When Ismael is 13 years old, God restores His relationship with Abram. God appears to Abram and calls Himself “El Shaddai.” This means “God Almighty.” Nothing is impossible for God.
God promises Abram that he will have a son with Sarai. Abram responds by falling on his face and worshipping God. God tells Abram to walk before Him and be blameless. Then God gives Abram a new name. Abram means “exalted father.” Abraham means “father of a multitude.” Abraham would become the father of many nations and kings, chief of them all is Jesus Christ. This is an everlasting covenant.
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:18-21
Abraham has a part in this covenant. He must be obedient to show that he trusts God and believes He will fulfill His promise. God requires every male in Abraham’s household to be circumcised. This is the sign of the covenant.
Today, Christians aren’t marked with an outward sign. Instead, we are marked and sealed with the Holy Spirit. This act of physical circumcision also represents a spiritual circumcision — cutting off the sin in our lives.
God also gives Sarai a new name. Then Abraham voices a concern — he doesn’t want Ishmael to be left out of the blessings. So God promises to bless Ishmael, too. But the covenant blessings are reserved for Abraham’s future son Isaac.
Abraham obeys God and circumcises every male in his household — on the same day. He obeyed immediately and without questions. This shows that Abraham was walking with God in faith.
Waiting isn’t easy. But it’s worth waiting for what God wants to do in my life. Am I willing to wait for Him to act in His time and in His way? What outward act of obedience can I take to show that I joyfully responded to God and His promises? God’s plan must be allowed to happen in His time and in His way.
Once again, I failed to get Avery to say her memory verse on camera. We’ll get back on track again soon!