Abram Loses Sight of God

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. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived… Genesis 16:1-4

Steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12

Abram had been assured by God that he would have many children. But Abram had difficulty trusting that God would do for him what He said He would do. Abram logically calculated how to handle this problem and his wife Sarai even helped him out with an idea. The idea was to get a second wife. This was against God’s counsel for in the Creation He had made it clear that His plan was one wife and one husband. By violating this arrangement Abram and Sarai started in motion a whole lot of chaos and confusion. The plan was to get a second wife, and Sarai chose a non-recovery oriented wife for Abram, and he “knew” her, or had sex with her, and she conceived. The plan technically was a success, but a disaster in reference to relationships.

Prayer for Today: God, You have promised us many things. We are tempted to help You like Abram attempted to help You. Please help us to learn how to trust You that You know what You are doing and if You need our help You will tell us. Help us to trust You for You are far more consistent, healthy, and well rounded than what we are. Help us to be like You are.