Abram: Genesis Chapter 16

Abram: Genesis Chapter 16

Would YOU allow GOD to see YOUR pain and probe YOUR heart so that YOU can get a fresh glimpse of His goodness and greatness to YOU?

Genesis Chapter 16 is about 3 people in all their Brokenness – Hurt – Pain. It’s about GOD searching and speaking and seeing ONE very vulnerable life and revealing GOD’S amazing goodness and His grace. It’s about where You and I can turn to when we want to run from our problems and run from our pain, rather than facing up to them. It’s about Real life – Messy relationships – Real mistakes and pain. And how our Father GOD reveals Himself so tenderly in the most broken moments of our lives.

1: Sarai – We want to take control, make things happen and manipulate things, rather than trust God’s timing and God’s purposes.

Sarai does have the promises of God to Abram, her husband. BUT nothing MORE v1, ‘She has no children.’ It’s been ten years since they first followed God into this strange New land in this adventure of faith. It’s been even longer since God had first made those promises of blessing of children and descendants.

Genesis Chapter 12 v2, ‘I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you.’ Genesis Chapter 15 v4, ‘Then the word of the LORD came to him: This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’

Even though Abram is in his 80’s and Sarai is in her 70’s – Abram believed God’s promises.

Question: How long can You keep on Praying – Waiting – Trusting God and still NO answer?

Sarai takes things into her own hands and has a plan, v2, ‘So Sarai said to Abram, ‘the LORD has kept me from having children. Go sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her!’

And of course it all goes horribly wrong and causes friction, pain, upset and blame between Abram and Sarai, v5, Then Sarai said to Abram, you are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.’

Question: What is it that you’re struggling to give control over to GOD and trust HIM for the outcome? Family – Finance – Future – Job – Relationships?

2: Abram – We listen to the voice of others and what they think rather than listening to God’s voice and trusting Him to keep His promises v2 and v6.

Abram has this incredible, unbelievable promise of God, Chapter 15 v4, ‘Then the word of the LORD came to him: This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’

Abram had listened to Sarai rather than taking time to Pray and ask God, was this His plan. The consequences of their action has brought MORE pain, hurt and brokenness into their world than they could ever have possibly imagined.

Question: Which voices are You listening to?

‘This is my Son whom I love – listen to Him.’ Luke Chapter 9 v35.

Question: Do you seek to hear God’s voice and obey God’s voice in the decisions that you are making and taking every day?

3: Hagar – We think that No one knows and No one cares for us – until we get a fresh glimpse of God’s goodness and grace. V7 to v16.

Hagar feels that nobody cares as she runs down the road towards Egypt and home, and arrives at this well, totally exhausted, broken in bits. V7, ‘The angel of the LORD found Hagar.’ God in His amazing goodness and grace goes searching for this one lost girl.

The LORD is the One who searches for You. The One who speaks into your heart and the One who sees Your pain – the One who really does care. On this road to nowhere Hagar meets the Living LORD for herself, face to face. She hears Him speak very personally into her life, telling her to turn around, go back!

V13, these beautiful words: ‘She gave this Name to the LORD who spoke to her – You are the GOD who sees me, for she said, I have NOW seen the ONE who sees me.’

She has heard Abram and Sarai talk about this GOD, the LORD – BUT Now she has meant Him for herself.

Question: Have You met with GOD today, like Hagar met with GOD that day?

Question: What is GOD saying to you and what are you going to do about it?