Genesis 16:1-3 “Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.”
Genesis 16:15 “And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.”
This is the third in an eight-part series originating from our new book: In God I Trust: Making Our National Motto My Personal Declaration:
Abram and Sarai had been promised a child that would carry on an unmatched familial legacy. Yet as they aged, they were concerned that the odds of procreation were growing dim. Thus, they devised a trustless and faithless work-around described in the verses above.
How did it work out for them? They had a child, but it was not part of God’s plan. And their “life hack” has severe ramifications for us today.
As a part of current portfolio, I speak frequently on national security and international affairs topics. I also am a regular commentator on NewsNation and Fox News. And if you looked at the hundreds of interviews I’ve done during the last few years (or the 61 in the last three weeks), you would see a common trend – the majority of them are related to on-going chaos in the Middle East. Most of my media engagements center on nations like Iran and Israel, and groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. And the chaos has a singular root cause – Abram’s and Sarai’s decision to diverge from God’s plan via their own seemingly brilliant work-around.
It didn’t work out well for them and it isn’t working out well for us. It is a great reminder that we are to trust in God even when we think we have a reasonable work-around.
PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD TRUST GOD EVEN WHEN WE THINK WE HAVE A REASONABLE WORK AROUND.
ADMIN: This PLUS post comes from my new book, In God I Trust: Making Our National Motto My Personal Declaration, written alongside Pastor Brad Wells. You can find it on Amazon here:
