Hagar and Sarah - God's Plan

Scripture for this week: Genesis 16:1-16; 21:1-21

My Comments: Hagar was a woman of courage and endurance. She persevered through abuse and a tragic life. God did not abandon her. When Hagar felt death was inevitable for her and her son, God was by their side.

I might create a different ending to the story. It would be an ending where all the bickering would be resolved. What would it look like if, in the end, Sarah and Hagar were forgiving, patient and learning to live together?

I wanted God to fix the mess created by Sarah and Hagar. But God didn’t fix things the way I expected. Much is learned about God here. As the story unfolds, God shows His love for each member of Abraham’s family. God is seen providing care, protection and blessings for each according to their need and according to His plan.

God has a plan for my life and He shows the same love to me. I can think of many times He has taken care of my needs. There was the long awaited phone call to reassure me my daughter had arrived safely home amid a terrible storm. There was the report that my husband would recover from a major stroke. I am still learning not to run off ahead of Him or shut Him out of what’s going on in my life. I know He wants me to turn to Him so He can love me, protect me, and bless me in good times and in bad times. What more could I ask for, what more could I possibly need? God is faithful…all the time!

Scripture for today: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Scripture of this week.

Monday - Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

Tuesday - I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

Wednesday - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10 (NIV)

Thursday - May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us. Psalm 97:1 (NIV)

Friday – For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Sarah and Hagar - A Family Separated

Scripture for this week: Genesis 16:1-16; 21:1-21

My Comments: As Ishmael grew up he and Hagar continued to harass Sarah and Isaac. Sarah was fearful of the future for Isaac as Abraham’s heir. She caused Abraham great sadness when he had to send Hagar and Ishmael out into the desert where they would die. I was relieved to read about God’s protection of Hagar and Ishmael from Sarah’s hatred. Hagar found freedom and chose a wife for Ishmael from Egypt, which was her homeland.

The details of the resentful struggle between Sarah and Hagar are not told. In my imagination I think of Ishmael spending his time as a young impressionable child amid hatred, jealousy, fear and pride. He probably witnessed his mother being constantly mistreated and his mother reacting with contempt.

I found God’s words regarding Ishmael before he was born very interesting: “He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” Was his hostility passed down to him from Hagar and Sarah’s behavior? Later in Genesis, I see that Ishmael handed his hostility down to his sons (Genesis 25:18).

The story of Sarah and Hagar was a sad one for me. Their family became separated because of their hatred for one another. A father, Abraham, was put in the position of choosing between his two sons. Many people, today, have experienced the pain of bickering, blaming and separations within families. Sides are taken and all communication shuts down.

On the other hand I think the story of Sarah and Hagar can bring hope. We can see that God did not condemn one side of a family quarrel and bless the other. Sarah’s Isaac received God’s blessings. Hagar’s Ishmael received God’s blessings as well. In spite of how he came into the world God allowed Ishmael’s descendants to become a nation. What a gracious God!

Scripture for Today: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us. Psalm 67:1

Hagar: God Heard Her Heartache

Scripture for this week: Genesis 16:1-16; 21:1-21

My thoughts: Hagar is a slave of Abraham and Sarah. She is a maidservant, which means she must have been helpful and trustworthy to earn this important position. Hagar probably was added to their household during their stop in Egypt. How she must have missed her family! Especially when she suffered through the consequences of an unmanageable situation while in Abraham’s household.

As I read Hagar’s story I become aware that God continuously has His eyes on Hagar. He watches over her and protects her. She has never asked Him into her life. She probably knows little about God. Yet God is there with her talking to her.

Hagar became prideful and paid a high price for her mistake. She chose to leave the unbearable situation. When Hagar ran away from Sarah because of her mistreatment, an angel of the Lord told her to go back and surrender to Sarah. Hagar obeyed. Can you imagine how she had to humble herself and work up lots of courage to turn back toward Abraham’s camp? She knew it was not going to be easy to face Sarah! It was God being available to Hagar that helped her do what He told her to do.

I can imagine Hagar’s fear and her desperation when Abraham sent her and Ishmael away into the desert of Beersheba. When their water was gone, she just sat down and sobbed. God heard her cry and spoke to her telling her not to be afraid. God saw her heartache. He was with her and He provided for her and her son.

I know that God has his eyes on me, watching and protecting me while I’m going about my day. When I was teaching, I was cornered by a young man twice my size, who had hidden in a classroom closet. I remember God sent a man twice his size to rescue me. While driving I stopped in time to allow someone in an opposing lane to come through on a red light. I know God held my car and prevented a tragedy. I have experienced God’s protection many times! He is with me!

If you have fears of the future because of a job loss, loneliness or addictions, God’s promises, His love and His protection are yours! Ask for God’s presence in your life. Get to know Him more each day through prayer and the reading of His Word. Be thankful and keep focused on Him. He hears your heart cry out when you are weak and beaten down. He knows all you are going through. He is available 24/7!

Scripture for today: I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

Hagar - Considering Sarah

Scripture for this week: Genesis 16:1-16; 21:1-21

My Thoughts: I have been thinking on Hagar. However, my mind is distracted by Sarah’s actions.
So today let’s consider Sarah.

God told Sarah that, although she was beyond childbearing, she would have a son. Sarah takes matters in her own hands. She made a human choice to forge ahead with a proposition to Hagar that was common for childless women in that time. Sarah was impatient and didn’t trust God to do what He said He would do for her. She didn’t ask for God’s blessing on her plan. She couldn’t wait for God’s timing. The time was right now for Sarah.

Abraham just as quickly agreed to Sarah’s plan. Reading the rest of the story, are we surprised to see what disastrous results came from their running ahead of God and doing their own thing?”

I found myself wondering: Could any of the animosity between Sarah and Hagar been resolved or laid aside? It seems ill feelings just bubbled and bubbled until they boiled over and neither one attempted to turn the burner off. It was about Sarah’s lack of faith, her reliance on her own ability and the pride of both women leading to disaster.

We have all waited on God’s timing for something. In some areas of my life I still try to be patient and wait on His timing. I know all the comments about God’s plan always being better, His timing being the RIGHT timing, and His knowing what is best for me. I do believe and have experienced those comments to be true. However, it doesn’t stop me from wanting to know NOW what to do, not to do or say. I get excited to know what insight I will receive from God. I NEED to know the end result! But I know that God’s plan is the best plan…so I wait.

Oh, yes, through the years I have experienced chaos, sadness, and stress as a result of rushing ahead of God just like Sarah. I continue to struggle to keep one great lesson in mind: Never get ahead of God!

Sarah shows us well what happens when one is tempted to get in the way of God and take matters into their own hands. God loved Sarah and allowed His promises to be fulfilled in spite of her actions.

The good news is that He will accomplish His promises through us, as well, in spite of our actions. We can be thankful for God who loves us and can and turn our bad into good.

Scripture Thought for Today: Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)