God’s Word is a truly the most fascinating book to read, there is no other book in the world quite as diverse in subject matter. It covers every aspect of movie-like drama and human emotion known to man. The Bible has made me blush, cringe, shake my head and wonder “what were they thinking?”
Possibly the strangest story to me in the Bible in terms of human reaction to a situation is that of Abram and Sarai. As their story unfolds we read of God’s call and promise over Abram’s life, that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. However as years pass by and Abram and Sarai begin to age, they wonder at how God’s prophetic word will come to pass in their lives. So Sarai has a brilliant idea! She approaches her husband and offers her servant Hagar to him. In her own words “Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” (Genesis 16:2 NIV)
Possibly the strangest story to me in the Bible in terms of human reaction to a situation is that of Abram and Sarai. As their story unfolds we read of God’s call and promise over Abram’s life, that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. However as years pass by and Abram and Sarai begin to age, they wonder at how God’s prophetic word will come to pass in their lives. So Sarai has a brilliant idea! She approaches her husband and offers her servant Hagar to him. In her own words “Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” (Genesis 16:2 NIV)
Wait…what?!? What kind of a plan is this? Sarai is asking her husband to have an affair in order to fulfill what God told them that He would do. And to make matters worse, Abram agrees! Now I don’t know much about marriage, being a single girl myself, but it’s pretty obvious to me that this plan equals nothing but disaster.
I’ve always been quick to criticize Sarai because her lack of faith in taking matters into her own hands. And yet how many times have I been guilty of the same condition? My actions may have not brought about the same consequences as Sarai, but my heart has been in the same place.
I am an offender of the same nature as Sarai. I have heard God and placed my faith in His words, standing upon my resolve that He who promised is faithful. But then, just as with Sarai, time and life have chipped away at my sense of security and I have looked for a back door plan of my own making.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in Jesus. I believe in every promise made to me in the Bible and in those secret places where God has whispered to my heart. I believe that God has plans for my life (Jeremiah 29:11) and that He has already gone before me (Deuteronomy 31:8). But when the hours and days of my life tick by and His promises have not fallen in line with my agenda I begin to wonder. I wonder if I am not doing enough, exercising my faith enough, putting enough action behind my belief. In short, I wonder if I have failed to live up to my end of the bargain.
Wait…what?!? What bargain? When did God start using His promises as a way to bargain with His people? When God makes a promise He places a period at the end of it: “Look up at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:5)
That was God’s promise to Abram, direct and to the point with no bargaining statement thrown in at the end. I’m the one, who like Sarai, adds on a condition where God has put a period. In my own understanding I begin to think that God has not fulfilled His word because He’s waiting on me to fulfill my role by making His promise happen in my life.
That was God’s promise to Abram, direct and to the point with no bargaining statement thrown in at the end. I’m the one, who like Sarai, adds on a condition where God has put a period. In my own understanding I begin to think that God has not fulfilled His word because He’s waiting on me to fulfill my role by making His promise happen in my life.
The Bible states that Abram’s role was to believe. That was it. And God credited his belief as righteousness. God didn’t add a comma to the statement or a conditional clause. He didn’t make Abram promise back that he would do everything right and never fail Him. God wanted to bless Abram because He loved Him and had a plan for His life.
It’s a simple truth but like Sarai I forget sometimes that God loves me and that is reason enough for Him to fulfill His promises in my life. They are His promises; therefore it is His job to bring them to fruition. He has never coupled a promise with a comma that insists that I do enough to make it happen. He simply asks that I believe.
The error of Sarai’s decision was birthed from a place in her heart that said she had not done enough, been enough, was deserving enough. But Sarai was wrong, as I often am. God’s love for Sarai and me and you is so vast and great that He desires to not just to promise great things for us, but to make those promises a reality in our lives.
Today I’m choosing to let go of my insecurities and striving and man-made plans. Today I am choosing to let God be God, the author and finisher and fulfiller of all His promises. Today I am standing secure in the knowledge that He who promised is faithful. Despite Sarai’s lack of faith and faulty plan there still came a day where “the Lord did for Sarah what He had promised” (Genesis 21:1). If He did it for Sarai He will do it for me and for you. Let’s choose today to trust God again. He is our Promise Giver and Promise Fulfiller!
Written by: Tricia Gibb
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