In God’s Time

In God's Time

My Bible,

My Help,

My Hope.

Introduction

As we turn to the book of Genesis, chapter 16, verses 1 through 16, we find ourselves in the midst of a story that resonates with the very essence of our human experience.

It is a tale of promises and patience, of pain and hope.

It is the story of Abraham, Hagar, and the God who saw them, knew them, and loved them just as He sees, knows, and loves each one of us.

Genesis 16:1–16 CSB

1 Abram’s wife, Sarai, had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So Abram’s wife, Sarai, took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband, Abram, as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she saw that she was pregnant, her mistress became contemptible to her. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and when she saw that she was pregnant, I became contemptible to her. May the Lord judge between me and you.” 6 Abram replied to Sarai, “Here, your slave is in your power; do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her. 7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She replied, “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her authority.” 10 The angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, and they will be too many to count.” 11 The angel of the Lord said to her, “You have conceived and will have a son. You will name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your cry of affliction. 12 This man will be like a wild donkey. His hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand will be against him; he will settle near all his relatives.” 13 So she named the Lord who spoke to her: “You are El-roi,” for she said, “In this place, have I actually seen the one who sees me?” 14 That is why the well is called Beer-lahai-roi. It is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son, and Abram named his son (whom Hagar bore) Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him.

We may not always understand God's timing, but we can trust in His promises.

We may face trials and tribulations, but we can find hope in His faithfulness.

Patience in God's Promises

In the heart of the story of Abraham and Hagar, we find a profound lesson about patience.

Christian patience must be active because it is a form of positive endurance not quiet acceptance.

Patience is not merely about waiting; it's about how we behave while we're waiting.

It's about maintaining faith, even when the fulfillment of God's promises seems far off.

Abraham and Sarai waited for many years for the promise of a child.

They faced the test of time and the challenge of doubt.

Yet, they held onto the hope that God would fulfill His promise.

Believing God:

Abraham's story teaches us that patience is not passive resignation, nor is it simply enduring until the end.

It's an active trust in God's timing.

It's about believing that God is at work, even when we can't see the evidence.

It's about holding onto hope, even when circumstances seem hopeless.

It's about trusting in God's promises, even when they seem impossible.

The struggle with doubt:

When the promise of a child was delayed, Sarai suggested a solution: Hagar, her Egyptian slave, could bear a child for them.

This was a common practice in their culture, but it was not God's plan.

Abraham agreed to Sarai's suggestion, and Hagar conceived.

But this solution only led to more problems.

Hagar began to despise Sarai, and Sarai mistreated Hagar.

The situation became so difficult that Hagar fled.

The danger of trying to fulfill God's promises in our own way and in our own timing:

When we try to take matters into our own hands, we often create more problems.

We need to trust in God's timing and His ways.

We need to remember that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

The power of faith:

Despite the problems that arose from their attempt to fulfill God's promise in their own way, Abraham and Sarai continued to believe in God.

They continued to trust in His promises.

They held onto their faith, even when their circumstances seemed impossible.

This part of the story reminds us of the importance of faith in the midst of our waiting.

Faith is not just about believing in God; it's about believing that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do.

It's about trusting in His character and His promises, even when our circumstances challenge our faith.

The grace of God:

Despite their mistakes and their doubts, God remained faithful to Abraham and Sarai.

He did not abandon them or revoke His promises.

Instead, He showed them grace.

He continued to guide them and to work in their lives.

This part of the story reveals the depth of God's grace.

It shows us that God's promises are not dependent on our performance.

They are based on His character and His faithfulness.

Even when we make mistakes, God's grace is greater.

He continues to work in our lives, and He continues to fulfill His promises.

The fulfillment of God's promises:

Despite the delays and the difficulties, God fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Sarai.

He gave them a son, Isaac.

This was not just the fulfillment of a personal promise; it was the fulfillment of a divine plan.

Through Isaac, God established a covenant with Abraham and his descendants.

Through Isaac, God brought forth the nation of Israel.

Through Isaac, God brought forth the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

This part of the story shows us the power of God's promises.

It reminds us that God's promises are not just about our personal desires; they are about His divine purposes.

They are about His plans and His purposes for our lives and for the world.

They are about His glory and His kingdom.

Perseverance in Abraham's Journey

As we continue to immerse ourselves in the narrative of Abraham, we find ourselves walking alongside him in a journey that is marked by perseverance.

This journey, while unique in its historical and cultural context, mirrors our own walks of faith in many ways.

The complexity of Abraham's relationship with God:

Abraham, like many of us, had moments of doubt and uncertainty.

He questioned God's promises and struggled to understand His plans.

Yet, even in his moments of doubt, Abraham continued to persevere.

He continued to walk with God, to communicate with Him, and to seek His guidance.

This is a powerful reminder for us that perseverance in our faith does not mean the absence of doubt or uncertainty.

Rather, it means continuing to seek God, to trust in His promises, and to walk in His ways, even when we do not fully understand His plans.

His willingness to obey God, even when it was difficult:

When God asked Abraham to leave his homeland and go to a place that He would show him, Abraham obeyed.

He did not know where he was going, what he would find there, or how he would survive.

Yet, he trusted in God's promises and obeyed His command.

This obedience was not easy.

It required sacrifice, courage, and perseverance.

Yet, Abraham was willing to obey because he believed in God's promises and trusted in His faithfulness.

His resilience in the face of trials and tribulations:

Abraham faced many challenges and hardships in his journey.

He faced famine, conflict, and the pain of childlessness.

Yet, he did not give up.

He did not turn away from God or abandon His promises.

Instead, he persevered.

He continued to trust in God, to hope in His promises, and to walk in His ways.

This resilience is a powerful testament to the strength of Abraham's faith and his commitment to God.

Word study: Hagar

As we reflect on these aspects of Abraham's journey, we find a key term that resonates throughout the narrative: "Hagar."

In the original Hebrew, the name "Hagar" means "flight" or "fugitive."

This term is used in other passages of the Bible, such as in 1 Samuel 23:13, where David and his men become "hagar" or fugitives, fleeing from Saul.

In both cases, the term "hagar" signifies a state of being that is marked by uncertainty, fear, and vulnerability.

Yet, in both cases, God's presence, guidance, and protection are evident, reminding us that even in our moments of "flight" or "fugitive" status, God is with us, guiding us and protecting us.

Building on these reflections, we see two additional aspects of Abraham's journey that are worth noting.

The first is his humility:

Abraham, despite his status and wealth, was humble before God.

He recognized his dependence on God and acknowledged His sovereignty.

This humility, coupled with his perseverance, is a powerful combination that enabled Abraham to navigate the challenges and uncertainties of his journey.

The second additional aspect is his hope:

Despite the trials and tribulations that he faced, Abraham never lost hope.

He continued to believe in God's promises and to look forward to their fulfillment.

This hope, fueled by his faith, enabled him to persevere and to remain resilient in the face of adversity.

Common thread:

We see a picture of perseverance that is grounded in faith, marked by obedience, resilience, humility, and hope, and sustained by the presence and promises of God.

As we reflect on Abraham's journey, let us be inspired to persevere in our own journeys of faith, trusting in God's promises, walking in His ways, and looking forward to the fulfillment of His plans for our lives.

Pain and Hope in Hagar's Story

As we turn our attention to Hagar's story, we find ourselves in the midst of a narrative that is as raw as it is real, as human as it is divine.

It is a story that speaks to the heart of our shared experience, a tale of pain and hope that resonates with the rhythm of our own lives.

She’s a figure of faith:

In the narrative of Hagar, we find a woman who, despite her circumstances, clings to the promise of a better tomorrow.

She, like Abraham, is a figure of faith, a testament to the power of hope in the face of hardship.

But her story, unlike Abraham's, is marked by a unique kind of suffering, a distinct kind of despair.

It is here, in the midst of her pain, that we find the first sub-point of our discussion: the transformative power of hope.

Active hope:

Hagar's hope is not a passive, idle hope.

It is an active, dynamic hope, a hope that propels her forward, a hope that fuels her faith.

It is this hope, this firm assurance, that allows Hagar to endure, to persevere, to press on in the face of adversity.

Hagar's hope is not born out of thin air:

It is not a product of her own imagination or a result of her own willpower.

It is a hope that is grounded in the promise of God, a promise that, despite her circumstances, she is not forgotten, she is not abandoned, she is not alone.

This brings us to the second sub-point of our discussion: the sustaining power of God's promise.

God's promise to Hagar is not a vague, abstract promise:

It is a specific, concrete promise, a promise that speaks directly to her situation, her needs, her desires.

It is a promise that is not a check to be cashed, but a seed to be planted, a command to be obeyed, a truth to be lived.

It is this promise, this seed, this command, this truth, that sustains Hagar, that strengthens her, that gives her the courage to face her fears, to confront her challenges, to overcome her obstacles.

Conclusion

As we close our time together today, let's remember that God's promises are sure and steadfast.

Even when we can't see the end of the journey, even when the road is rocky and the climb is steep, we can trust in His faithfulness.

He is a God who sees us, who knows us, and who loves us more deeply than we can comprehend.

In the story of Abraham and Hagar, we see a God who is present in our pain, a God who is patient in our impatience, a God who is faithful even when we falter.

He is the same God who walks with us today, who holds us in His hands, who guides us with His grace.

So, as we go from this place, let's carry this truth in our hearts: We are seen, we are known, we are loved.

And in every season, in every circumstance, God is with us.

He is for us.

And His promises are sure.

Let's pray together:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your word and Your wisdom.

We thank You for Your promises and Your patience.

We thank You for Your love and Your faithfulness.

As we go from this place, help us to hold onto these truths.

Help us to trust in Your timing, to find strength in Your presence, and to find hope in Your promises.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.