Genesis 16:1-5 Taking Matters into Our Own Hands

What do we do when it appears that God’s promises are not coming true in our lives?

Consider a young woman who has not yet married. She attends a small church with no eligible young men. Should she marry a nice unbelieving man and hope that he later trusts Jesus as his Savior?

What about the man whose boss asks him to forge a document by making it appear that it was signed a month earlier rather than today? By misleading the corporate office he will gain a large commission on a sale. If he dates the document with the proper date, he will receive only half as much.

Think about the elderly person lying in bed in a nursing home. Should that person take an overdose of pills in order to commit suicide?

God has promised to protect us and reward us in a myriad of ways. However, when we fail to see his hand working in our lives, we are sometimes tempted to take matters into our own hands instead of trusting in Him.

Abraham provides an example for us. In chapter 15 God promises to give him a descendant who will be his heir. In chapter 16 Abraham still has no heir, and he believes the Lord has prevented him from having children.

Abraham decides to take matters into his own hands by adopting a practice of his ancient near eastern culture. It was common for a person to have a child through one of his servants, and Abraham used that practice to conceive Ishmael through his servant Hagar.

Abraham’s act brings immediate negative consequences. His wife becomes angry with him, “I allowed my servant to have sexual relations with you, but when she realized that she was pregnant, she despised me. May the Lord judge between you and me” (Gen 16:5).

Next, Sarai took her anger out on Hagar by mistreating her. As a result, Hagar took the boy and fled to the wilderness.

The Lord had promised to bless Abraham and Sarah, but they did not wait to allow Him to bring about the blessing. As a result, their own relationship suffered, and the slave Hagar was greatly hurt.

As we face the difficulties of life, we must continue to trust in the Lord and the promises He has given us. There is no need to take things into our own hands.

He has not forgotten his promises. He will fulfill them all. Let’s trust Him in these days and watch as He protects us and blesses us in great abundance.

“For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” - Phil 1:6