How to Extend Your Wait

Transcription

1 How to Extend Your Wait I. Introduction and review A. Last week we considered the second half of Gen. Chap We saw that God made a contract with Abram, but that God was the only one to sign it 2. It didn t require Abram to do anything, but required God to do it all. 3. Who enters into contracts like that, only those who have absolute confidence in their ability to perform. B. Several considerations as to what God did 1. Darkness can be the wellspring of hope [consider 15:12] a. Abram has seen the future b. He knows now what God is going to do c. God s holiness and power will accomplish all of this 2. Although God appears to delay from time to time, He is always right on time a. Enduring the wait has its own built in purposes and rewards b. Consider Psa. 40:1-3 and Heb. 10: Our future is as clear to God as our past is to us a. Psa. 139:1-6 b. He knows Abram s life span as well as ours c. He knows every detail of our past and of our future C. God s Will Page 1 of 6

2 1. What He wants 2. How He wants it accomplished 3. When he wants to accomplish it II. Chapter 16 Overcome by Waiting [16:1-4] A. Abram was 75 when he and Sarai left Haran bound for the promised land 1. Ten years have elapsed since they left Haran 2. God has made the promise several times to give them one or more children 3. The most recent such promise is in 15:4 4. But as of now, nothing has happened 5. How long is it reasonable to wait on God to do something He has said He will do a. Said versus promised (1) is there any difference as far as God is concerned (2) should there be any difference for us b. Should we adopt this standard for ourselves? c. Does our intent to emulate Christ figure into the mix? B. Sarai has an idea 1. Are the statements on which she bases her plan accurate or not? a. Did she own Hagar? (1) consider today we mate two dogs, who owns their offspring (2) any offspring of a slave is owned by the slave s master b. Sarai has had no children [true] Page 2 of 6

3 c. The Lord has prevented her from having children d. She will obtain a child through Hagar (1) will she? (2) according to the customs of the time yes (3) but such customs are not binding on God e. In His eyes, Hagar would be considered Abram s wife (1) see 16:3 (2) compare to Jn. 4: What in effect is Sarai doing a. Asking her husband to commit adultery (1) do we ever do that in our society today (2) surrogate mothers? b. Isn t she seeking to accomplish God s will her way, and in her timing c. Could you make an argument that God had not promised to give them a child that would be the biological child of Sarai, He only promised to give to them a child which was the biological child of Abram [see 15:4] d. But God does not accomplish His will through planned sin (1) He will work or sinful ways together for good if we turn our lives over to Him (2) but He does not plan sin to accomplish His plan 3. This passage is a perfect example of of how husbands and wives are Page 3 of 6

4 involved in the spiritual battle between God and Satan a. First lets consider Sarai (1) she is allowing Satan to use her to influence Abram for evil (2) this is very similar to how he used Eve to influence Adam (3) every wife will be used to influence here husband, the only question is will she influnece him toword godliness or toward sin b. Next consider Abram (1) the phrase that is telling is this: And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. (2) that is an editorial comment by God (3) what does that mean? (4) what God is saying is that the final choice either was made by Abram or should have been made by Abram, and that God is holding him primarily responsible C. What result did Sarai fail to anticipate? 1. Sarai, Abram and Hagar live in effect is a small town 2. There may be as many as a thousand people living with them 3. Word travels fast and everyone seems to feel as if they are entitled to know everyone else business 4. Everyone knows of course that Abram and Sarai are barren 5. But whose fault is it? a. It is either Abram s fault or Sarai s fault, or both of their fault Page 4 of 6

5 b. But once Hagar gets pregnant, is there any question as to whose fault it is that is who is cursed with barrenness c. Now how everyone looks at Sarai has changed, and she s not happy about it. D. Sarai s response [16:5-6] 1. In effect she blames Abram 2. He was the cause of all of the problems and difficulties she is now facing 3. How does Abram respond to all of this a. In effect he says these are women s concerns, leave me out of this b. You do what you want with the women 4. How should Abram have responded III. Considerations Looking Forward A. All of these problems arose from Abram and Sarai seeking to help God accomplish His plan 1. In their way 2. And in their time B. When this temptation comes we should: 1. Move a little slower a. If we are feeling pressure, force yourself to slow down b. Talk a long walk and sort through the issues confronting you c. Recollect the promises that God has given to you d. Is it time to wait or to advance 2. Ask God for patience Page 5 of 6

6 a. Seek self control and wisdom b. Try and decide who is suppose to be doing what c. Patience is something God wants us to have and wants His Spirit to instill in our lives d. Understand that faith relieves pressure 3. Imagine the worst case a. Consider how a wrong decision could effect you and others b. Consider also how long those effects could remain in place 4. Think about those who could be impacted by your decision 5. Would Abram and Sarai have had to wait as long as they did if they had waited patiently during this chapter of their lives together Page 6 of 6