Genesis 16:2-4 - "Helping" God
Scripture:
Genesis 16:2-4
2 So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the Lord has prevented
me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I
will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the
voice of Sarai.
3 After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan,
Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave
her to her husband Abram as his wife.
4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw
that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her
sight.
NASU
Thoughts:
The Bible doesn't really say why Sarai comes up with this
terrible plan. It's possible she feared what would happen to
her should the aged Abram die without an heir. In any case,
she devises this dreadful compromise in order to (she thinks)
fulfill God's promise to Abram.
But then something happens she did not expect, Hagar becomes
haughty once she is pregnant. For all these childless years
in Abram and Sarai's marriage, there had to be a question as
to whom was the cause of their state. Now it was clear.
Hagar had been able to do with Abram what Sarai never could,
and Hagar now felt some mastery over her mistress. So
continues this ugly tale.
The point I take away from this is to not try to help God to
accomplish His will or to obtain the desires of our hearts.
Our plans may look good to us, but anything apart from living
in faith is sin, and so often leads to unintended negative
consequences. In the end, only God can accomplish His will or
any good in our lives:
James 1:17
17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from
above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom
there is no variation or shifting shadow.
NASU
We do well to keep our eyes on the divine Provider, and leave
the provision to Him.
Prayer:
Help me Lord to wait on You for the things dear to my heart.
Your ways and Your timing are perfect. Help my unbelief.
Help me to leave my life in Your trustworthy hands.
Amen