Genesis 16:1-16
Reflect
God is preparing Sarai and Abram for an incredible spiritual event, but they just don’t get it. So they take the matter into their own hands and figure out a natural solution to a spiritual matter.
Sarai commanding Hagar to sweep the floor and feed the camels is one thing. Demanding that Hagar give up her body and put her womb out as a sex slave is quite another. Abram delivers, and Hagar becomes pregnant.
Follow Hagar throughout the Scriptures and you will see that she is a powerful woman. Abram now has two powerful women to care for, and one of them, Hagar, was able to do something for Abram that the other hadn’t. That usually doesn’t go well.
“The angel of the LORD” is the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. Jesus, almost 2000 years prior to being born to Mary, comes and ministers to Hagar. His two questions in verse 8 are stunning, and His verse 10 promise continues to be evident.
Hagar, in her desperation, has an encounter with Jesus, and praises Jesus by saying that He is the God that sees, El Roi (El Row-ee).
Apply
God continues to guide us. How do you prevent yourself from coming up with a natural solution? Who is suffering from the bondage of ungodly power? Will you go to them today as the incarnation of El Roi?
Pastor Dan
Pray
- Pray for our Prime Minister and Premier, Mayor Sohi, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to your mind.
- Pray for all our small group leaders.
- Pray for our Missions Ministry Assistant, Oleksandr Lushchyk.