Key Verse:
And Sarai said unto Abram, behold now the Lord hath restrained me from bearing; I pray thee
go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice
of Sarai. ( Genesis 16:2)
Reflection:
God had promised Abram a child however in the process of waiting his patience run thin.
Days, months, years were going by but there was no baby in site. During this time Abram
started to wonder whether God has forgotten his promise. Sarai his wife was getting older, all
around him were evidences that all hope was lost. While contemplating this His wife came by
and had an idea. Genesis 16:2 says she came up with the idea of Hagar her helper be a surrogate
mother.She believed that by doing that she would be helping God fulfill the process he had made to them in other words we would say she took matters into her own hands. At this point in time Abram gave in to her suggestion and months later Ishmael was born. We have heard the rest of the story how there was commotion in his family and so much strife between the two wives he had that God asked him to send Hagar away. oh the amount of trouble when bring on ourselves when we are impatient and think God is taking long to fulfill his promise. As children of God growing in his knowledge we fall. God allows certain situations to come our way to strengthen our faith. Sometimes he may let a painful experience come your way like that of Job or keep you waiting. In this times, it's easy to be led away from God by the ones close and dear to us. It could be your relative or a close friend who you really trust. I realized as a christian we have those friends close to us who are always growing in the knowledge of God. I share my christian experiences with them and they do the same..in time I develop that close trusting relationship with them and believe they are also led by God and will guide me in the right way. When faced with a problem I run to them to ask for direction since i believe God will speak through them. It is in this kind of situation that we may be led astray. As much as those close to us who have a relationship with God may give sound advice the ultimate person we should consult is God. Abram when facing this test of faith listened to his wife Sarai and failed the test. I personally through this story have learned to hold on to God's promise. when God says he will do something, he will do it. It can take years and years but his promises never fail. We can depend and trust fully on his promises to us. Whether the storms rage, we loose our houses, family members or anything dear to us we can count on his promises. In our daily lives we encounter challenges let us hold on to his promises. Also remember God is our guide and not the loved ones around us. Remember when Job lost everything, it is his wife that he devil used to lead him to curse God. Not that she was an evil person but our eyes should always be on God. In the garden of Eden when Adam fell it was because he hearkened to Eve. It is through those close to us that the devil sometimes tries to draw us away from what God was told us. It's my prayer that as we grow in faith we learn that he who has promised is faithful.
