People sometimes seem to feel they need to “help” God accomplish his promises. Take Abram and Sarai for instance. After God told Abram that he would have an heir from his own body, apparently he and Sarai began to ask, “How?” (Which was not an unreasonable question.)
As bizarre as this sounds to us today, Sarai looked at her maid servant, Hagar, and got an idea. Hagar was an Egyptian, and had somehow come to belong to Abram and Sarai. (Perhaps Pharaoh gave her to Sarai after the “tell-them-you’re-my-sister” debacle recorded in Genesis 13.) Anyhow, Sarai’s idea went something like this: God promised Abram he’ll have a son. God didn’t say that I’d give birth to that son. Perhaps, if I let Abram have sex with Hagar she’ll get pregnant, and since I own her the child will be mine to,o and this way I can give Abram a son. (I said it sounded bizarre!)
It worked. Sarai “gave” Hagar to Abram. Abram had sex with her. She got pregnant. Problem solved, right?
Wrong.
Once Hagar was pregnant she, “looked with contempt on her mistress.” She began to look down on Sarai. And why not? According to the Sarai’s own logic God was giving Abram a child through her, Hagar, and not Sarai. Perhaps Hagar was more blessed than Sarai. Jealousy ensued. Did Abram make matters worse by giving Hagar special treatment? Sarai calls for the Lord to judge between them. Abram confirms that Hagar is Sarai’s “property.” Sarai begins to mistreat Hagar and she runs away.
God intervened by sending an angel to Hagar who told her to return to Sarai and submit to her, and be a good servant. The angel also told her that her child would be a boy and he would have a special place in history. Indeed, Ishmael is the father of the Arab people.
God keeps his promises. He doesn’t need us to keep them for him. However, we still fall into this mindset that we need to do something to help God keep his Word. We feel that if we’re really going to be forgiven we’d better straighten up our lives. We talk about being a “good” Christian, which means we read our Bibles, pray, volunteer, give, etc., but rarely focuses on clinging to Jesus as our Savior. In the end we find ourselves stressed and doubt-filled because we’re still trying to earn the salvation God has given us as a gift. It’s as if we look on God’s promise with contempt. Instead of taking God at His Word, we want to add something we must do to the equation.
But even in this, God is good and patient with us. He doesn’t always approve of the things we do, but He always works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). He will even use our dubious choices to bless us and work out His will in our lives. Not because we tried. Not because God grades on a curve. God acts for our good because His attitude toward us is love and grace. We need to learn to rest in that – for the sake of our own joy – and receive God’s promises as they are – a gift.
Father, You are good and patient, and I praise you for using even my mistakes to Your glory. Forgive me for the times that I’ve added to your Promises, and help me to simply trust you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
As bizarre as this sounds to us today, Sarai looked at her maid servant, Hagar, and got an idea. Hagar was an Egyptian, and had somehow come to belong to Abram and Sarai. (Perhaps Pharaoh gave her to Sarai after the “tell-them-you’re-my-sister” debacle recorded in Genesis 13.) Anyhow, Sarai’s idea went something like this: God promised Abram he’ll have a son. God didn’t say that I’d give birth to that son. Perhaps, if I let Abram have sex with Hagar she’ll get pregnant, and since I own her the child will be mine to,o and this way I can give Abram a son. (I said it sounded bizarre!)
It worked. Sarai “gave” Hagar to Abram. Abram had sex with her. She got pregnant. Problem solved, right?
Wrong.
Once Hagar was pregnant she, “looked with contempt on her mistress.” She began to look down on Sarai. And why not? According to the Sarai’s own logic God was giving Abram a child through her, Hagar, and not Sarai. Perhaps Hagar was more blessed than Sarai. Jealousy ensued. Did Abram make matters worse by giving Hagar special treatment? Sarai calls for the Lord to judge between them. Abram confirms that Hagar is Sarai’s “property.” Sarai begins to mistreat Hagar and she runs away.
God intervened by sending an angel to Hagar who told her to return to Sarai and submit to her, and be a good servant. The angel also told her that her child would be a boy and he would have a special place in history. Indeed, Ishmael is the father of the Arab people.
God keeps his promises. He doesn’t need us to keep them for him. However, we still fall into this mindset that we need to do something to help God keep his Word. We feel that if we’re really going to be forgiven we’d better straighten up our lives. We talk about being a “good” Christian, which means we read our Bibles, pray, volunteer, give, etc., but rarely focuses on clinging to Jesus as our Savior. In the end we find ourselves stressed and doubt-filled because we’re still trying to earn the salvation God has given us as a gift. It’s as if we look on God’s promise with contempt. Instead of taking God at His Word, we want to add something we must do to the equation.
But even in this, God is good and patient with us. He doesn’t always approve of the things we do, but He always works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). He will even use our dubious choices to bless us and work out His will in our lives. Not because we tried. Not because God grades on a curve. God acts for our good because His attitude toward us is love and grace. We need to learn to rest in that – for the sake of our own joy – and receive God’s promises as they are – a gift.
Father, You are good and patient, and I praise you for using even my mistakes to Your glory. Forgive me for the times that I’ve added to your Promises, and help me to simply trust you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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