April 30, 2023 - Genesis 15:4-5, 16:1-4a

“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.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.” Genesis 15:4-5, 16:1-4a NIV

Lord, like Sarai, we so often try to take your matters into our own hands. Your promise to Abraham and Sarai, with Abraham being 75 and Sarah 65, seemed impossible to them. After about 10 years with still no children, it looked to only get more impossible. Help us not be like Sarai who tried to make it happen in her own way instead of waiting for what you had planned. Lord, forgive us for the times that we have been like Sarai. Lord, it’s amazing that even though Sarah didn’t follow your plan, you still fulfilled your promise in your timing. Praise you that your faithfulness to us isn’t contingent on our faithfulness to you. But that doesn’t mean that we will not have to deal with the consequences of our unfaithfulness. Sadly, we are still living with the consequences of Sarai’s decision almost four thousand years later. Guard us from taking matters into our own hands and having to deal with the consequences. Help us learn to be patient in the waiting. Help us learn to trust you. If it takes years, let us continue to pray with expectant hearts, trusting that you will do what you promised.

In Jesus name, amen.