"Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
Today's Blog Title: "Hagar and Ishmael"
Today's Scripture Reading: Genesis 16:1-15
Today's Key Verse: Genesis 16:4: "So he went into Hagar and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes."
In this Chapter, we see that Sarai (even thou God had promise a son from Abram through her) becomes impatient to the
fact that both herself and Abram were getting older, so she urges Abram to follow and accepted custom, and father a child with her Egyptian maid servant, Hagar.
After Hagar conceived, Sarai became quite jealous. We see here in this story that it illustrates the wisdom of God's marital ideal, that even when it was "legal" to have a woman other than one's wife, the practice created problems.
Sarai paid an emotional price for doing what when the culture expected. Because she did not wait for the promise of the Lord on bearing a son the hatred and the belittling of the young servant woman was humiliating for Sarai.
She now comes to Abram (verse 5), and in this verse, we come as close to the use of cursing among God's people in the Bible, and this was from Sarai's frustration. During this time, both Abram and Sarai did not behave well. Sarai because of her harsh treating of Hagar and Abram for allowing it to happen. You will also notice here that the Bible does not hide any unjust things and that it shows it's best characters at their worst moments.
Hagar runs away from Sarai into the wilderness by a spring of water. We see that an Angel of the Lord comes to Hagar and asks her, "where have you come and where are you going". After she tells the Angel of The Lord why she is there, the Angel then tells her to return to Sarai, and tells her that God would multiply her descendants and that she would call her son "Ishmael which means "God hears", and this is similar to the one given to Abram and Sarai. We should note here even though Hagar was Egyptian, she had come to faith in the Lord of Abram and Sarai. Her statement in verse 13 would suggest amazement at God's grace and humility in His presence.
Hagar then returns to Abram and Sarai and bears a son and Abram names him Ishmael. In the closing verse of Chapter 16 we are told that Abram is now 86 when Hagar gave birth.
Closing Question and Comment: Do you like Sarai, when you pray, become impatient in waiting on the Lord, and by not waiting compound the problem? When life becomes too painful to bear, we can find strength in remembering what Hagar discovered, that the Lord is "the God who sees me." When we realize this, and when we know that the Lord is aware of our pain and need, then our strength will be renewed, for God not only sees us, He sees the future.
In the trails of life, I find, another voice inside my mind
He comforts me, and bids me live, inside the Father gives
Inside your love, I find relief, a haven for my unbelief
Take my life and let it be, a living prayer to Thee
Heavenly Father, Today we pray that we might be as Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say on the Lord." Lord, instill within us, the patience to wait upon Thee, and to always be listening to your voice that speaks to our hearts.
Amen
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day and Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.
Yours in Christ,
Cindi
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