Thursday, October 8, 2009
Be careful what you talk your wife into!
Genesis 16.
I think Abram had the hots for Hagar. And I think he had been dropping hints to Sarai. He probably even brought up the prophecy regarding the descendants as stars.
I say this because, given that culture, he could have just taken Hagar. But I think he was a smart man, and wanted Sarai to think it was a good idea, so we see in Ge 16 that Sarai suggested it. I also say it because of her reaction when Hagar despised her because she couldn't conceive. Sarai wasn't angry with God, or with herself for dreaming up the solution. No, she was angry with Abram.
The idea had spawned with him and somehow over time (10 years since the prophecy) he convinced Sarai that this was what God wanted for them. In the aftermath of the conception Sarai realized that many months prior, she had convinced herself that Hagar was God's solution, God's way of fulfilling the prophecy. Then later, she realized it was Abram's solution. That's why she was angry with him. If it was her idea, she'd be lecturing herself about being so stupid.
No wonder, years later, she laughed at the angel's prophecy for her - the prophecy of her pregnancy. She laughed because she had spend over 10 years being angry and perhaps bitter towards her husband, her handmaiden, her God, and her husband's son.
She's probably thinking "and now you offer me this easy solution? Now? Where were You 20 years ago?"
Where was He 20 years before? If the angel had come 20 years earlier with the prophecy for Sarai what would have been different?
Let's see,
1. Abram would not have considered the deadness of Sarai's womb, believed God and had it credited to him as righteousness. We wouldn't have the great example of faith ("he did not waver in unbelief ...").
2. Ishmael's descendants - a good percentage of the Arab nations, would not be on the earth today.
3. The covenant of circumcision might not have occurred.
4. There would not be the tremendous historical animosity between the house of Isaac and Ishmael that may very well culminate in the return of Christ.
So, what's the point? I see two points:
The first is that God is an amazing Redeemer. He will allow us to make our bad choices, but then He will turn them around and bring good out of them.
The second is that there is still a price to pay for our bad choices, so I can see I need to be careful when I begin dropping hints to my wife and waiting for her to suggest I go ahead and do what I wanted to do!
I think Abram had the hots for Hagar. And I think he had been dropping hints to Sarai. He probably even brought up the prophecy regarding the descendants as stars.
I say this because, given that culture, he could have just taken Hagar. But I think he was a smart man, and wanted Sarai to think it was a good idea, so we see in Ge 16 that Sarai suggested it. I also say it because of her reaction when Hagar despised her because she couldn't conceive. Sarai wasn't angry with God, or with herself for dreaming up the solution. No, she was angry with Abram.
The idea had spawned with him and somehow over time (10 years since the prophecy) he convinced Sarai that this was what God wanted for them. In the aftermath of the conception Sarai realized that many months prior, she had convinced herself that Hagar was God's solution, God's way of fulfilling the prophecy. Then later, she realized it was Abram's solution. That's why she was angry with him. If it was her idea, she'd be lecturing herself about being so stupid.
No wonder, years later, she laughed at the angel's prophecy for her - the prophecy of her pregnancy. She laughed because she had spend over 10 years being angry and perhaps bitter towards her husband, her handmaiden, her God, and her husband's son.
She's probably thinking "and now you offer me this easy solution? Now? Where were You 20 years ago?"
Where was He 20 years before? If the angel had come 20 years earlier with the prophecy for Sarai what would have been different?
Let's see,
1. Abram would not have considered the deadness of Sarai's womb, believed God and had it credited to him as righteousness. We wouldn't have the great example of faith ("he did not waver in unbelief ...").
2. Ishmael's descendants - a good percentage of the Arab nations, would not be on the earth today.
3. The covenant of circumcision might not have occurred.
4. There would not be the tremendous historical animosity between the house of Isaac and Ishmael that may very well culminate in the return of Christ.
So, what's the point? I see two points:
The first is that God is an amazing Redeemer. He will allow us to make our bad choices, but then He will turn them around and bring good out of them.
The second is that there is still a price to pay for our bad choices, so I can see I need to be careful when I begin dropping hints to my wife and waiting for her to suggest I go ahead and do what I wanted to do!
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