Genesis Chapter 16
Impatient. Uncomfortable. In Need of Mercy.
IMPATIENT:
Sarai became impatient waiting on the Lord for a son, so she took matters in her own hands and influenced her husband, Abram, to do the same.
She gave Abram her slave, Hagar, to sleep with and begin a family that Sarai would call her own.
Sadly, though, when Hagar became pregnant Sarai despised and hated her and wanted to get rid of her. She vented to Abram and blamed him as well.
Abram gave his Blessing for letting Sarai do what she wanted with Hagar her slave. So Sarai mistreated Hagar so Hagar ended up fleeing from her.
How often are we impatient with the Lord? How often do we quit praying and begin to take matters in our own hands.
UNCOMFORTABLE:
Hagar could not handle living with Sarai because of how she was being treated. So she fled. An angel came to Hagar and instructed her to return to Sarai and submit to her. The angel promised her a blessing from her soon to be son. Life is not always comfortable for us. When that happens we try to flee and put the discomfort behind us. But often times God calls us to persevere through the discomfort. To trust him through it. Sometimes he calls us to be a light of Christ in uncomfortable circumstances. It’s often during these times that God breaks down the walls of the enemy that otherwise would not have happened if we fled.
MERCY:
God saw Hagar in her broken state and had mercy on her. Honestly, there are several occasions I cry out to God asking for his Mercy in my life when I feel lost and like a failure with my life. I’m thankful for his constant love for me even in my worst moments.
