No Shortcuts (Genesis 16)

Genesis 16:1-6

Sarah was a woman of God.

She had seen, time and time again, how God had miraculously provided, saved, and promoted her husband Abraham.

But the lack of one thing continued to eat at her: a child.

At this point in the story, the promise of an heir had probably weighed heavily on Sarah’s shoulders for many years.

She wanted to perform for her husband.

Child-bearing was a top priority for women in that age and if they could not have children, they were often seen as cursed.

Sarah refused to wait any longer and decided to take matters into her own hands.

Her idea was a perfectly legal solution to the problem.

She would give Hagar, her servant, to Abraham, and the child Hagar bore would belong to Sarah.

The maid would be nothing more than a tool in the whole plot.

Abraham was likely just as confused and frustrated as his wife was at the situation, so he agreed to her plan.

Like Adam taking the fruit from Eve, Abraham lay with Hagar at his wife’s behest.

As you could have guessed, Sarah’s impatience and rash decision led to an explosive end.

The two women became violent towards one another once Hagar was with child.

The maid couldn’t take it anymore and decided to run away.

When this happened, everyone felt the loss, “Hagar has lost her home, Sarai her maid, and Abram his second wife and newborn child.”

Here, the Bible reminds us that even those closest to us will sometimes tempt us to circumvent God’s plan with a logical answer.

Having a surrogate mother was the rational answer to Sarah’s infertility.

But God had other plans.

He assured Abraham that the child would come from his own body, inferring that Sarah was equally as important in the plan.

Their impatience trumped God’s promise and disaster was the result.

Takeaway: God’s plans are not always logical, but they are the best option.

Prayer: Help me to trust You God and to be patient with Your plan, even when the way You choose to do things doesn’t make sense to me.