Prophecy

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Flesh Versus Faith
Genesis chapters 16 and 17; 18:9-15; 21:1-21;Gal. 5:21-31; Heb. 11 :11

The Patriarch Abram had waited many years for Me to fulfill My promise to give him a son. But now he was 85 years old, and knew that he and his wife were getting no younger. Indeed, it was no longer humanly possible for her to bear a child, for she was in her seventies. In those days, it was considered a great disgrace to remain childless, and the value of a barren wife was often questioned.

Although Abram had treated her kindly, Sarai was very embarrassed about the situation. So she decided to follow the custom of the time and give her slave girl to her husband to produce offspring through her. Abram reluctantly agreed; for at that moment, the reasonings of his natural mind prevailed over his faith in My miracle-working power. If any story proves that the old adage “God helps those who help themselves” is not in My Word, this one surely does. Abram reasoned that if I were ever to keep My promise, I must have his active cooperation. So he took Hagar the Egyptian as a concubine. Surely this plan was foolproof. The girl was young and healthy. Naturally she could easily bear Abraham a son.

Within a short time of their union, Hagar conceived. At first, Abram and Sarai rejoiced. I was finally fulfilling My promise to give Abram a son, they thought. But Abram had taken Hagar without first consulting Me about it. He’d just assumed it must be My will. After all, it seemed to be a good tradition to follow, and surely traditions must be respected, especially when all other options seem to have failed.

Always ask Me first before making a major decision which could alter the course of your life! It will save you a lot of tears and setbacks in your walk of faith. Pray first. If I disapprove of what you are planning to do or where you intend to go, you will feel quite uneasy about it. When that happens, don’t try to argue your way out of following My will. I always know what is best, for I can see things down the road that you cannot see. I inhabit Eternity, and know the beginning from the end.

Sarai’s elation was short-lived. It was bad enough that she had to share Abram with another woman, but by now the demeanor of her slave-girl toward her had completely changed. Hagar became arrogant. Formerly, she had always known her place. Now she felt she had the leverage she needed to play a power game with her mistress. She hoped Sarai would never bear a son, and that her son would be Abraham’s eventual heir, inheriting everything he had. Perhaps, she insinuated to Sarai, she might even supplant her as the favorite wife. Sarai was stung by such insolence. She pinned the blame on Abram for heeding her advice to take Hagar in the first place.

Already that deed done in the flesh was giving rise to problems far worse than childlessness. Sarai was angry and Abram was bewildered. She had always been such a pleasant companion, he thought. Abraham gave Sarai his permission to punish the slave girl as she saw fit. Hagar was dealt with so severely she fled the camp in tears.

Once she paused beside a well to refresh herself, bitterness flared up in her heart. Slaves had very little control over their own destiny. Hagar felt used and bruised in body and soul, although her unborn child was her consolation. In her lowly estate I succored this poor woman. Trusting Me, she obeyed My angel’s admonition to return to her mistress and submit herself.

There was a temporary truce between Hagar and Sarai. The two were even able to rejoice together over the birth of little Ishmael. The three adults involved would try to live together as harmoniously as possible for the sake of the child. All three had a stake in his welfare.

Abram reconciled himself to having produced this one son by a slave-girl. God can use even Ishmael to fulfill his promise to make me the father of innumerable descendants, he reasoned. And Abram was relieved that his neighbors could no longer reproach him for being sonless. Now he had offspring, just like they did.

As the lad grew, Abram increasingly felt it would take a miracle for this child to become a man of faith. He had a wild streak in his nature, and he was not particularly devout. But surely I could still make My promise come true in spite of Ishmael’s contrariness. What other option was open to Me?

To Abram’s great surprise, I appeared to him and made Myself quite clear: He and Sarai would, in their old age, have a son together. He would be the Child of Faith, conceived through My power. I gave the couple new names: Abram became “Abraham”, the father of many nations. Sarai became “Sarah”, a princess, the mother of kings.

In due time Sarah gave birth to Isaac, whose name means “laughter”. You can be so thrilled with the wonderful things I do that it makes you laugh with joy.

Strife arose between the two boys when Ishmael was in his teens. The son born of the flesh could not live together peaceably with the son born by My power. The two had to go their separate ways. Discord between the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac has persisted for 4,000 years. I joyfully anticipate the day when this bitter enmity will be forever healed. I love and care for both peoples. Descendants of Ishmael, as well as Israel, are destined to have a place of honor in My Millennial Kingdom.

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