READING: Genesis 16-18
God had promised that Abram would have a son of his own, and his descendants would number like the stars (Gen. 15:4-5). The problem was that he and his wife were now rapidly passing the childbearing age. To fix that problem, Abram’s wife offered their slave, Hagar, to him so she might bear their child. As more than one writer has noted, this option would have been acceptable in their culture — but the language of this scenario also echoes the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:
Gen. 3:6, 17 So she [Eve] took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.. . . . And He [God] said to Adam, “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: . . .
Gen. 16:2-3 And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him.
Apparently, Sarai was unwilling to wait any longer. After all, she and Abram had now lived in Canaan for ten years, and God had not kept His promise to give them a son. So, they took the matter into their own hands, followed a culturally acceptable methodology, and moved in the wrong direction. Their impatience with God — rather than their ongoing trust of Him — led to their seeking a shortcut to get what they wanted.
There’s a lesson here for us as well: whenever we try to manipulate situations, find easy ways out, look for shortcuts, and force God’s hand because He acts too slowly for us, we’re listening to the wrong voice.
Watch your heart. Beware of any tendencies toward manipulations and shortcuts. The enemy is likely at work, even when the world says those options are okay.
ACTION STEPS: To examine your heart today:
- Do a gut-wrenching search to answer this question: “Do I ever try to manipulate situations to get what I want?” Confess to God if needed.
- Consider one area of your life today where you are struggling with being patient with God. Ask Him to grant you faith that waits without wavering.
- Watch out for any time you think about taking a shortcut to get what you want today.
PRAYER: “God, forgive me for when I try to rush You. Teach me today that your timing is always perfect.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Genesis 19-21
