Reading through the Bible in 2020: Notes from the Bible Recap Day 17

Read through the Bible 2020
Bible Recap Day 17 Gen 16-18
Personal notes from reading Gen 16-18:
Well, there are some parts of scripture that are just hard for me to read and this passage is certainly one that falls into that category.  It’s just bad all the way around. Our choices can really make a mess of things when we act outside of God’s will for our lives. Sarai decided to take their infertility matters into her own hands and tells Abram to take her servant as another wife and have a child with her.  And in her own thoughts, that child would become their child and it would fill that void. Um-- not a good idea. In fact, it was just really an unbelievably horrible situation that she put everyone in. I do wish that Abram would have stood up to Sarai here. He could have done what was right.  I’m not sure that Hagar really had much of a choice being a servant, but I do wish that she would have reached out to God to guide her in that situation and of course I wish that she would have had an honest conversation with Sarai beforehand. When we decide to take matters into our own hands because we’re unhappy with God’s timetable or plan, we complicate things and usually it gets ugly.  We have to trust God. We have to be patient. We have to remain obedient. Our plans are never going to be better than God’s plans for our lives. I know it from experience. There are certainly times that I took matters into my own hands, and the outcome wasn’t good. 

Despite all the mess ups, God still remained true to His word.  He’s steadfast. He renewed His covenant with Abram and changed his name to Abraham, meaning the father of a multitude.  Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah, meaning princess. God promised them a son and a nation. The token of the covenant was circumcision, which was an outward distinction of who they were and their obedience to God.  

In chapter 18, the LORD appeared to Abraham again.  And boy is he happy to be in the presence of his Lord.  I so connect with Abraham here. There is absolutely no place better than being in the presence of my Lord.  


Notes from the Bible Recap Gen16-18:

The decision for Sarai to give her servant to Abram to have a child with, didn’t just cause her problems, it caused problems for everyone in that situation and the problems continued for generation after generation.  Hagar had Ishmael, who would become the muslims and Sarah had Issac, who would become the israelites. Those groups are still at odds today, thousands of years after Sarai gave Hagar to Abram to conceive Ishmeal. Our decisions have consequences that can have far reaching and life changing effects.  

The podcast reminded me of theophanies-- when a physical manifestation of God appears on earth. Then there are christophanies--when Christ made appearances on earth before He was born to Mary and lived here for 33 years.  When the term “THE angel of the Lord” appears, it is thought that scripture is referring to Jesus preincarnate. Looking at scripture, it is probable that it was Jesus preincarnate who showed up to care for Hagar. I can’t help but feel extremely thankful that He showed up for Hagar because it’s a beautiful reminder that regardless of our shame, regardless of our sin, regardless of our past; He loves us and He is most certainly there for us.  

It is important to point out that Abraham was quick to obey God when it came to circumcising Ishmael and the males of his household, including himself.  It happened that same day. No delay. Just trust and obey.

There was so much covered in just a few chapters, almost overwhelmingly so.  There’s the issue with Sarah and Hagar, there’s the multiple theophanies, there’s the changing of names and the renewal of a covenant.  But the big picture here for me is that even when we mess things up thoroughly, and sometimes in a big way, God shows mercy. No matter what we do, there is redemption in Christ.  Are there consequences for our actions? Well, yeah. But, God is still there for us. He sent His son to die for us. He takes our shame. I can’t say it enough, God is in control and we shouldn’t try to take it from Him.  Trust and obey His plan for your life. Believe me, His way is the best way.

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