Hard to Believe
Sermons Available Online at www.fbcrussell.org
Genesis 16
Sarai’s is working overtime.
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not borne him a child, but she had an Egyptian slave woman whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please have relations with my slave woman; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. Genesis 16:1-2
For years Abram has experienced God and yet – still no .
At this point Sarai is and they are concerned.
Let’s give them credit:
- is a bit old for .
- They have waited a .
- They are what God said.
- This is an practice of their day – though to us.
- They were with understanding the .
Sarai wasn’t in seeking to solve this problem.
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Abram also said, “Since You have given me no son, one who has been born in my house is my heir.” Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Genesis 15:1-4
Sarai’s proposal! (6:1-3)
Am I alone – or does anyone else hear going off?
It is amazing – how far our can wander.
From Sarai’s point of view she was making a sacrifice.
- Giving up her
- Helping her husband’s with God.
- It all depends on .
It is best to go with God’s in His .
It’s kind of like the garden, but instead of , it is a .
Remember: Abram had walked with God years – he had learned about the of God.
Abram should have used this time as a moment.
What were Abram’s mistakes?
So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please have relations with my slave woman; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. And so after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave woman, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. Genesis 16:2-3
1st Abram was listening to the .
2nd God has to work with .
3rd He agreed to do something that was consistent with will – not .
- Notice the of this temptation.
- Notice how it appears.
- Notice how one leads to .
- Notice the of Sarai’s .
- Notice the of her proposal! “The end justifies the means.”
4th Abram took the bait:
- Besides, approved!
- approved!
- Didn’t approve?
5th He convinced himself that he was God’s , and yet he did not discover God’s .
(This is the of the problem.)
There are always consequences.
1st The flesh acts out in !
So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. Genesis 16:4 NLT
2nd The flesh acts out in !
So Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I put my slave woman into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was insignificant in her sight. May the Lord judge between you and me.” Genesis 16:5 NASB
3rd The flesh acts out in !
But Abram said to Sarai, “Look, your slave woman is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence. Genesis 16:6 NASB
4th There is in rebellion.
God steps in…
How long does it take to learn we cannot from God?
Now the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s slave woman, from where have you come, and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” Genesis 16:7-8
- God Hagar!
- God Hagar! “Hagar, Sarai’s Maid”
- God Hagar! “where have you come from and where are you going?”
1st Her !
2nd Her !
- Hagar’s ! “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”