Genesis 16:1-4 // Helping God
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Human Intervention
Human Intervention
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar.
Sarah had bore Abram nor children
This is not new information, we found out about her barrenness when we first met her in Gen 11:30.
This information is for context.
We also are introduced to her female servant, Hagar
points out that she is an Egyptian Servant.
We are being led into seeing Life according to Sarai
Problem from a human perspective
And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
“…the Lord has prevented me from bearing children.”
What is the problem?
We knew of Sarai’s bareness in Gen. 11:30.
So why is it being presented as a problem now that requires a solution?
Because somewhere in the last ten years..
God’s promise (at least to Sarai) became an entitlement.
God promised a child, and now Sarai felt entitle to receive that promise.
“God has prevented me…”
Pressure understandable
Ultimately providing lineage was considered the wives responsibility.
Bareness was grounds for divorce in that culture.
It was still believed that God blessed them with children.
Consider this...
When Sarai says, “…God has prevented me…”
She knew God’s promise…
(Admittedly) She believed it was God who was preventing her from having children.
So...
Sarai made a conscience decision to claim the promise of God by using human means rather than faith.
Leads up to this principle:
A life lived by faith in God may not be the most pleasant from a human perspective. But it is one lived according to God’s will. Which means it is the best life you could hope for.
And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
“...Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.”
So, Sarai’s perception of a problem required a solution.
She decided to offer a solution.
This is Sarai’s solution to the problem stated in the previous sentence
Could insert a “Therefore” at the beginning.
Some have painted Sarai here as a faithful wife who is willing to sacrifice even the intimacy of her husband for the sake of God’s will. (however)
Chapter 16 seems to be indicating the human failures of this chosen couple.
Sarah doesn’t even mention Hagar’s name (she is property)
Sarah never accepts Ishmael as her son.
Ultimately they will be sent away at her request.
Christian Paradox
I know God wants me to have this thing.
(therefore) this thing is good.
It is now paramount that I get this good thing that God wants me to have.
How I get it is not important only that I have it.
And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
“And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.”
Makes this situation an illusion to the Garden of Eden.
God had made this promise to His people (Adam & Eve)
Live in peace and harmony with me in Eden.
Eve finds herself no longer content with her station in live and seeks to find pleasure by her own means.
Adam, when faced with the opportunity to practice integrity, takes His faith off God and becomes complicit in this scheme and become a co-offender in their sinful actions.
The Fruit of Your Labor
The Fruit of Your Labor
And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.
Sarai’s plan totally backfires. (Should we be surprised?)
The pawn in her scheme was supposed to remain unimportant.
(irony) The thing that was supposed to provide Sarai honor is now threatening her position of honor.
Sarai’s status didn’t change (she was still barren)
Highlights an important principle when living according to faith:
When we decide to make ourselves the benefactor of what God has promised us, we take on the responsibility to make it work out the way we desire. That not only means obtaining it but also sustaining it.
Your Best Life Now
Your Best Life Now
As Christians, we look forward to promise of God.
The eternal peace and joy that will one day be realized in heaven.
We are faced with a certain temptation.
To see that promise as an entitlement in this life,
Set our integrity aside
Attempt to use human ingenuity and will to attaint it.
However, the bible is clear:
Christ alone provide this access to God and the joy that comes with it.
It is a gift.
We are hopeless to attain it.
Any other effort,
May give temporary joy.
But will fall short in the end.
Will make condition worse than the original.
You will never know a greater joy than a life lived in a true relationship with God.
Only through faith in Christ will you find relationship (or that joy)
We must constantly remind ourselves that we are not entitle to a gift.
(We need to be brave) We MUST practice learning to wait for God to open a door in our lives and resist opening our own.
This puts God’s will in God’s time.
(Illustration) – Active Recovery
It seems to be our nature to focus on the destination and lose the benefit of the journey.
We are calls to live a life with God as we look forward to our eternity with Him.
Our best life is one lived with contentment in God’s plan for us now. And trust in His provision for tomorrow.