The Other Woman...Genesis 13-16
I have chosen to write about chapter 16 because the chapter has a copious amount of lessons from which to learn. At least for myself, when I was reading the entirety of 13-16, 16 was like the main conflict portion of an act. Although, we know that this not just a "story"; it really occurred.
In case you are reading this without reading the previous chapters in Genesis, God promised Abram and Sarai that He would give them an heir. Actually, not just an heir but told him to "Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them...Your offspring will be that numerous" (15:5). Moses (author) says that "Abram believed the Lord, and He [God] credited it to him as righteousness" (v. 6).
Below I believe are the main problems that I saw for Sarai: (taken from chapter 16)
Sarai did not trust in the Lord (v.2) - to do as He said He would - to do it in His timing - to do it through her
"Sarai said to Abram, 'Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her, I can build a family.' And Abram agreed to what Sarai said." (Genesis 16:2, HCSB)
I know, one of the first thoughts that can come to mind, as a woman, is directed towards the last sentence, "And Abram agreed to what Sarai said." However, let's get off the Abram-bashing train for today, and focus on Sarai and us as women and what God can teach us through her.
I realized when I was reading how much and how often I am Sarai in verse two. Don't misunderstand me and start whispering to your friends that I have given my mistress to my husband. I do not have a mistress, silly!
In all seriousness, let's be honest with ourselves as women, as human beings. How often do we not trust in the Lord to:
- do as He says He will * when things do not go the way that we believe or desire them to go, we can start to question whether He will do as He says. We believe that our ideal answer is the correct and best solution.
- do it in His timing * When the answer does not come as quickly as we assume that it should, we start to take matters into our own hands, arrogantly believing that we are helping God get the job done. As if He needs our help or He forgot about His promise.
- do it through us? *We believe that we are not good, strong, intelligent, talented, or skillful
enough to handle what He has asked us to do. Well, guess what? We are not. That is why He says that He will never leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6); with God, all things are possible (Matt. 19:26); and we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength (Phil. 4:13)
Also, we go and take matters into our own hands. We manipulate people, circumstances, and money all in the name of "God's will." If you sit there believing that you have never done any of the aforementioned, then either you are a WAY better woman than me, or you are completely in denial and have fallen into the trap of allowing your heart to be deceived. Not that I am anything special, but I would gather that you fall into the latter.
Here is the problem(s) with not genuinely trusting God - 1. Hurts our relationship with Him 2. Hurts our relationship with others 3. Consequences (possibly lifelong)
When Sarai's mistress became pregnant after Sarai did not trust God and she gave Hagar to Abram, Hagar treated Sarai with contempt (Sarai's consequence). Then Abram allowed Sarai to treat Hagar horribly because Sarai was jealous, and then Hagar left and was told by God to return and submit to Sarai's mistreatment (Hagar's consequence). Finally, even Ishmael, Hagar and Abram's son bore consequences for the sin. In Gen. 16:11-12, God told Hagar that Ishmael would be "like a wild donkey. His hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand will be against him; he will live at odds with all his brothers." I am pretty sure that is not the first comment you want to hear concerning your son's future. However, it was the price that was paid.
So often, we live in and make our choices based on what we think is best rather than on what we know God has said and trusting in His Word, timing, and choice to use us. He knows best...ALWAYS!
