Isaac Not Ishmael [Devotion]

Genesis 16:1-3, “Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. “

I know. It’s not the most uplifting passage for a devotional. But as we know all scripture is profitable and this passage, as well as the wider account it references, is no exception. The reason I chose this passage for our devotional this week is because my pastor recently reminded me that .. As we see in this account.

When Abram was 75 years old (Gen. 12:4) God called him from where his family had settled to take him to a knew land and make of him a great nation. But there was a problem. Sarai, Abram’s wife, was barren. Yet God still promised that Abram would have offspring through which God pass His blessing. But the years went on and by the time we see the passage above about ten years have passed and rather than waiting for the blessing of the Lord Sarai and Abram take matters into their own hands by giving Hagar as a wife to Abram. Sarai thinks by doing this she will solve the problem but all she ends up doing is making new problems for herself and her husband. They get a son, but not in God’s time and not in God’s way. And when they do finally get a son that joy is marred by the tension created by the presence of Ishmael.

And that is an important reminder for us as we move forward in our callings. I’ll be honest as I approach the film festival I wanted to be so much further along in the process… but I’m not. But that’s no excuse for me to try and do things in my own might. We want Isaac not Ishmael. And the thing about Isaac is God brought Isaac at just the right time to bring glory to Himself through the miracle aged, barren, Sarai becoming the mother Sarah. The same applies here. I want this project to be what God wants it to be and what will bring God the most glory! Abram had to wait 25 years for the son God promised him but God did bring him. So I hope we all will reflect on the things in our own lives where we’re tempted to step outside of God’s plan and timing even though the reasons seem really good and remember that God will keep His promises. What remains to be seen is will we be faithful to wait for Him!