Connecting Scriptures:  Genesis 3:6, Psalm 34, Psalm 139, Psalm 121:8, Proverbs 15:3, Isaiah 40:27-31

While scripture lets us know that 10 years have passed while Abram has lived in Canaan, we don’t know how quick the turn around was from God giving him a sign of the covenant and Sarai’s plan covered in today’s chapter.  For whatever reason I feel better thinking that a chunk of time went by and the waiting took its toll on her.  But, if anything, scripture has shown us that sinful actions apart from God’s plan don’t take long at all to key up in our minds.  So, when Sarai thinks she has cooked up the perfect plan to move this promise along—Abram puts up no fight.  I am reminded of another husband and wife duo who took their roles of leadership in reverse.  Eve gave the fruit to a watching Adam.  He didn’t put up much of a fight either. 

Abram took Hagar as wife and she easily conceived.  This discovery didn’t illicit joy for them, but blame and a disregard between Sarai and Hagar.  All the relationships here are skewed with husband and wife at odds, and servant and mistress off balance.  This is what taking things into our own hands does.  It rarely gives us the results we want, it barrels through relationships, and it gives back little compared to the abundance God has prepares for us.  

Let us consider Hagar.  She was a woman who served and did not have a choice.  She was made in God’s image and was treated like property and then cast away when reality came crashing down.  As Hagar ran for shelter in the wilderness (imagine a desolate place being better than home!), the angel of the LORD met her there.  God had great compassion on her because He saw her affliction and wanted to assure her that her life had purpose beyond a moment.  Beyond being a servant.  She was a mother and her presence in Ishmael’s life would be vital.  God saw her, and brought her comfort and courage to keep going.  In joy and worship, Hagar declares a new name for God—El Roi, The God Who Sees.  She goes back to Abram’s tent, obedient to the God who came to her, and who knew her frame.  She trusted in His plan for her and her son.  Did you catch the similarity in the promise made over her lineage?  All of Abram’s sons become nations.  

Questions for Reflection:

1.  Have you ever had a “plan B”—situations that we rush to manipulate God’s will—that blew up like Abram and Sarai’s?

2.  What comfort is it that we have a God who sees us and supplies our needs when we are in a wilderness of distress?  Praise the Lord that He is near to the broken hearted (Psalm 34) and that He knows us through and through (Psalm 139).