Genesis 15-16
God cares for me,
just as he cared for Abraham. He tells Abraham, "I am your shield. Your
reward will be great." God heard Abraham's concern: he is childless. How
could his offspring become a great nation? He was probably full of questions
and concerns, just as we often are. God reveals truth to Abraham that no one
else would know: about the sufferings of Israel in Egypt, the judgment of Egypt,
and his deliverance he will bring to Israel.
Only
God can have complete compassion on us, reassure us, take away our fears,
deliver us, and speak truth that no one else has ever known!
In chapter
16,
Sarai is lacking faith, choosing to take things into her own hands
because she
just sees herself as 'barren'. God can reverse any situation! So Sarai
gives
her Egyptian servant to Abraham, so he may have a son. Sarai is looked
down
upon by Hagar, the Egyptian servant, as a result of Hagar's conception
of
Ishmael. The interesting thing is: Sarai gives Hagar to Abraham, he
obeys his wife too readily, and then Hagar's conception brings Sarai to
blame Abraham. The problem with sin: tell someone to do something, then
blame them when they listen to
you… It is wiser to be obedient and trust God.
No matter what our circumstances, we can TRUST Him, knowing His will is best
and His timing is perfect!
In the
midst of
all this: Sarai drives Hagar away when she deals harshly with her, but
it is
here that this Egyptian servant encounters God. She "calls the name of
the
LORD who spoke to her, "you are a God of seeing," for she said,
"Truly here I have seen him who looks after me. (Gen. 16:13)"" What a
wonderful picture we have here. Even when we are alone, fearful, and
hurt by others, God still sees us and has compassion on us!
What really hits
me in the passage is God says: "Fear not…I am your shield, and your reward
is great." So often fear feels so much greater, but we need to surround
ourselves with the reality that we are not alone. He is so much greater than
our fears or whatever we may be facing. We cannot let those fears override who
we know God is and what He is capable of. Our response should be to praise Him. In the midst of Job's
circumstances, he bowed down and praised God when tragedy strike. Our response should be to praise Him. God can increase our
faith, and move mountains as we keep our eyes focused on Him!
Ephesians 3:20
reminds us: "
Now to him who is
able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power
that is at work within us.."
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