Every smart phone now has a pretty good camera, a zoom lens, and numerous picture editing options. Technology is amazing! Yet, if there is a wrong focus, the picture will be unclear. The problem is not the subject of the picture. The problem is the focus. It is vital that the church sharpens its focus on Almighty God…El Shaddai…and wait on His way!
Running Ahead of God (Gen. 16)
Let’s remember a few things. Abram was 75 when he first received the promise of a child (Gen. 12:4) and we find out later that Sarai was 10 years younger than Abram (Gen. 17:17). So, when God first promised a child, Sarai was 65. When we get to Genesis 16, Abram is 85 and Sarai is 75. Sarai has grown impatient with still having no child. She runs ahead of God’s declared plan. She gives her Egyptian slave, Hagar, to her husband (Gen. 16:3) for the purpose of having a child (Gen. 16:2). Sarai comes up with a plan that makes sense to her at the moment, and she gets mad when her plan is successful! Keep this all in perspective:
It has been 10 years of waiting for the promised child.
Sarai is 75 and is now too old for having and raising a child.
In that culture, no children meant God’s blessings were removed.
It seems that Abram is willing to simply keep the peace in the home (Gen. 16:2, 5-6) and do what Sarai asks. So, he gets Hagar pregnant and she ends up giving birth to a son, who is called Ishmael.
In short, Sarai decides to manipulate the order of the home God intended for them (one husband and one wife). Look at the process of this downward spiral:
There is impatience with God’s timing
There is manipulation instead of trusting God
There are broken relationships
There are painful consequences that follow
My favorite cake is a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. It is basically a health food with all the carrots in it! My sweet wife recently made a carrot cake for my birthday, and it was delicious. Now imagine what would have happened if she removed the cake from the oven before it was done. It would have most likely collapsed in on itself and ruined what would have been good with a little more waiting.
The average is not good at waiting! Trying to manipulate God’s timing into our own timing often ends with hurt and unwanted consequences! When we try to justify and pursue even good things outside of God’s timing, we end up with baggage. Good things like…
Physical intimacy is a good thing and even God-given, but only in the bounds of marriage. When we pursue physical intimacy outside of marriage, the guilt of immorality weighs us down. Some say they aren’t ready for marriage, but they choose to embrace a physical relationship that could never be sustained outside of marriage. Selfishness and lust drive immorality. Genuine love, commitment, and sacrifice drive marriage. One who unselfishly loves and truly is willing to commit to their partner, has no standing to reject the commitment of marriage. However, most importantly, the Bible condemns physical intimacy before or outside of marriage (Col. 3:5; I Cor. 6:18; Eph. 5:3; I Thess. 4:3-5; Heb. 13:4).
Claiming the promises of God’s provision is a good thing! However, some tire of waiting. So, they get all the possessions they wanted, but now debt is high, the financial pressure is immense, relationships are stressed, and it was never what God intended.
Prayer and pursuing healing can be a good thing! However, some have an idea of how that healing should look, and it may not match God’s plan. In their minds, if God does not take away the disease, then His promise is not fulfilled. Yet, Paul asked for the removal of his ailment, and God said no, because His grace is enough (II Cor. 12:8-10). Sometimes, God’s healing is found in heaven when our bodies are made perfect …sometimes, God’s healing is enabling us by His grace to walk through a long valley of pain…and sometimes, God’s healing is the removal of disease. Are we willing to yield our longings to God’s all-knowing plan and timing for our lives?
Sarai was struggling with yielding to God’s plan and waiting for His timing. Her impatience and unwise reasoning brought immense pain for herself, Abram, Hagar, and the Jewish nation (Ishmael became of the father of many Arab tribes). Think twice before you wander from God’s declared promises!
Listening to God (Gen. 17:1-14)
After a person has run ahead of God, and made a mess, they can become either very bitter or very ready to listen. 13 years have passed since Genesis 16:18. Abram is now 99 years old, Ishmael is 13 years old, Sarai is 89, and God chooses to reaffirm his promises. Notice that the promises of God all depend heavily on God’s faithfulness, not on Abram’s performance. Abram and Sarai messed up 13 years ago. Look! God is faithful, merciful, forgiving, and loving…not because of what they did, but because of who He is and His grace. Here are God’s uplifting promises.
“I am almighty God.” Gen. 17:1. Before God tells Abram what He will do, He tells him who He is. This is the first mention of “El Shaddai.” This name of God points to His unlimited power to do everything He promises. In essence, God says with this name, “look at me, not your circumstances!”
“I will make my covenant.” Gen. 17:2. God initiates and secures His covenant.
“I will multiply thee exceedingly.” Gen. 17:2. Only God can create a nation from a childless 99- and 89-year-old couple!
“I will make thee exceeding fruitful.” Gen. 17:6. God promises abundant descendants!
“I will make nations of thee.” Gen. 17:6. Abraham will become the father of many nations!
“Kings shall come out of thee” Gen. 17:6. God’s plans extend far beyond Abraham’s lifetime!
“I will establish my covenant.” Gen. 17:7. God guarantees that His promises are permanent!
“To be a God unto thee.” Gen. 17:7. God does more than promise blessings. He promises Himself!
“I will give the land of Canaan.” Gen. 17:8. God fulfills both the spiritual and physical aspects of His covenant.
“I will be their God.” Gen. 17:8. This covenant ends where it began. It ends with relationship with God!
George Mueller cared for thousands of orphans in the 1800’s in England. There were times when no food was in the cupboards. It is said that he would sit the children at empty tables and thank God for His provision. Within moments, a baker arrived unannounced with bread, and a milkman gave them milk from his broken-down cart because he didn’t want it to spoil. George did not ignore the needs. He looked beyond the needs to the God who was greater than the needs!
Chapter 16 began with what Sarah lacked. Chapter 17 began with who God is. When you and I place our focus on our circumstances, we are tempted to step in and try to fix things. However, when our focus is on El Shaddai, we can rest in the reality that God’s promises rest on His power, not our power! So, when enemies surround you or The Enemy attacks you, rest in God’s promises. When trials seem too hard for too long, rest in God’s promises. When needs seem impossible, rest in God’s promises! What promises of God are you resting in today?
Trusting God (Gen. 17:15-27)
Abraham hears God give a final confirmation to his having a son with Sarah, and he laughs. Abraham says. “We are too old! Let Ishmael be the son of promise!” Abraham is struggling to believe God and could also be amazed that God would still fulfill His promise at this late stage in life. God shows immense patience, kindness, love, and firm resolve to clarify His promise. What an encouragement! It’s not too late for God to work!
What promises of God seem so impossible that we stop expecting Him to fulfill them?
The promise that God can change a heart. We believe a marriage is too broken or my wayward child will never change! Lk. 18:27.
The promise that God’s grace is sufficient. So, we trust our own strategy, money, and influence more than God’s grace. II Cor. 12:7-9.
The promise that God’s timing is too long or too late. Our “Hagar moments” come when we decide God is too slow for our liking.
The promise that God will build His church. We believe that culture is too hostile or wicked, and the gospel doesn’t work like it used to! Matt. 16:18.
The promise that the Bible will not transform lives. Jer. 23:29; Heb. 4:12.
The promise that Christ will return. I Cor. 15:51-58; I Thess. 4:13-18; II Pet. 3:4.
May we all sharpen our focus on Almighty God and wait on His way.