Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Thoughts in Worship 06.19.2017
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Thoughts in Worship 06.19.2017
Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, June 19, 2017
“And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?” (Genesis 16:13).
We humans are uniquely gifted in the area of making a mess of our lives. God is uniquely sovereign and well able to overrule in every situation we surrender to Him.
If you are into rubbish television with scandalous, twisted plots and few redeeming qualities stop wasting your time and read the Bible. Some of the stories are stranger than fiction, and the Lord’s hand is clearly seen. The story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar is our case study today.
God tells Abraham that He is going to give him descendants that would be so plentiful that He compared them to the sands of the sea and stars of the sky. He also promised immense blessing through His descendants. The problem (not really a problem) was that Abraham and Sarah were old, fruitless, and barren. For whatever his reasons given the biological details, Abraham thinks he’s giving God an idea of how to fulfil His promise. He could do it through one of his servants. News flash, Abraham: God doesn’t need your help, and that’s not what He said. You and Sarah will have a son. The blessing would come through him.
Fast forward: Sarah, not wanting to be outdone on the give God a not-so-bright idea front, told Abraham to have sex with her maidservant, Hagar, and that would be their contribution to the Lord’s ability to keep His promise. Abraham goes in to Hagar, they have sex, she has a son, and everything goes haywire (to say the least). There’s trouble in the camp. The wife and concubine are having conflict. The wife is the boss, but the concubine is pregnant. Very complicated!
To make a long, sordid story short, Hagar runs away from the house, and the Lord visits her at a fountain in Shur. He tenderly told Hagar to go back home and submit to Sarah, promised to multiply the offspring of her son, Ishmael, and gave her a heads-up about how his descendants would war with everyone around them.
God was so patient in this years long ordeal. He finally did give Abraham and Sarah the promised offspring through whom Messiah did come. He did have to further test Abraham's faith. He continues to manage the unquenchable conflicts between Ishmael’s offspring and the rest of the world.
Among the many lessons we can learn from this story is found in Hagar’s interaction with God. As He tenderly instructed her at the fountain, she immediately began to understand that He sees and hears all of our troubles. God is not asleep. He cannot be caught off guard when we or others make a mess of our lives. He always has a plan to deliver those who submit to Him amidst our trials. The road will not be easy. Some of the negative effects will outlive us, but God can still bring blessings and save anyone willing to ultimately trust Him. Are you willing to submit your complications to God?—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, June 19, 2017
“And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?” (Genesis 16:13).
We humans are uniquely gifted in the area of making a mess of our lives. God is uniquely sovereign and well able to overrule in every situation we surrender to Him.
If you are into rubbish television with scandalous, twisted plots and few redeeming qualities stop wasting your time and read the Bible. Some of the stories are stranger than fiction, and the Lord’s hand is clearly seen. The story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar is our case study today.
God tells Abraham that He is going to give him descendants that would be so plentiful that He compared them to the sands of the sea and stars of the sky. He also promised immense blessing through His descendants. The problem (not really a problem) was that Abraham and Sarah were old, fruitless, and barren. For whatever his reasons given the biological details, Abraham thinks he’s giving God an idea of how to fulfil His promise. He could do it through one of his servants. News flash, Abraham: God doesn’t need your help, and that’s not what He said. You and Sarah will have a son. The blessing would come through him.
Fast forward: Sarah, not wanting to be outdone on the give God a not-so-bright idea front, told Abraham to have sex with her maidservant, Hagar, and that would be their contribution to the Lord’s ability to keep His promise. Abraham goes in to Hagar, they have sex, she has a son, and everything goes haywire (to say the least). There’s trouble in the camp. The wife and concubine are having conflict. The wife is the boss, but the concubine is pregnant. Very complicated!
To make a long, sordid story short, Hagar runs away from the house, and the Lord visits her at a fountain in Shur. He tenderly told Hagar to go back home and submit to Sarah, promised to multiply the offspring of her son, Ishmael, and gave her a heads-up about how his descendants would war with everyone around them.
God was so patient in this years long ordeal. He finally did give Abraham and Sarah the promised offspring through whom Messiah did come. He did have to further test Abraham's faith. He continues to manage the unquenchable conflicts between Ishmael’s offspring and the rest of the world.
Among the many lessons we can learn from this story is found in Hagar’s interaction with God. As He tenderly instructed her at the fountain, she immediately began to understand that He sees and hears all of our troubles. God is not asleep. He cannot be caught off guard when we or others make a mess of our lives. He always has a plan to deliver those who submit to Him amidst our trials. The road will not be easy. Some of the negative effects will outlive us, but God can still bring blessings and save anyone willing to ultimately trust Him. Are you willing to submit your complications to God?—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)
View all episodes
By Message Magazine
3
22 ratings
Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, June 19, 2017
“And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?” (Genesis 16:13).
We humans are uniquely gifted in the area of making a mess of our lives. God is uniquely sovereign and well able to overrule in every situation we surrender to Him.
If you are into rubbish television with scandalous, twisted plots and few redeeming qualities stop wasting your time and read the Bible. Some of the stories are stranger than fiction, and the Lord’s hand is clearly seen. The story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar is our case study today.
God tells Abraham that He is going to give him descendants that would be so plentiful that He compared them to the sands of the sea and stars of the sky. He also promised immense blessing through His descendants. The problem (not really a problem) was that Abraham and Sarah were old, fruitless, and barren. For whatever his reasons given the biological details, Abraham thinks he’s giving God an idea of how to fulfil His promise. He could do it through one of his servants. News flash, Abraham: God doesn’t need your help, and that’s not what He said. You and Sarah will have a son. The blessing would come through him.
Fast forward: Sarah, not wanting to be outdone on the give God a not-so-bright idea front, told Abraham to have sex with her maidservant, Hagar, and that would be their contribution to the Lord’s ability to keep His promise. Abraham goes in to Hagar, they have sex, she has a son, and everything goes haywire (to say the least). There’s trouble in the camp. The wife and concubine are having conflict. The wife is the boss, but the concubine is pregnant. Very complicated!
To make a long, sordid story short, Hagar runs away from the house, and the Lord visits her at a fountain in Shur. He tenderly told Hagar to go back home and submit to Sarah, promised to multiply the offspring of her son, Ishmael, and gave her a heads-up about how his descendants would war with everyone around them.
God was so patient in this years long ordeal. He finally did give Abraham and Sarah the promised offspring through whom Messiah did come. He did have to further test Abraham's faith. He continues to manage the unquenchable conflicts between Ishmael’s offspring and the rest of the world.
Among the many lessons we can learn from this story is found in Hagar’s interaction with God. As He tenderly instructed her at the fountain, she immediately began to understand that He sees and hears all of our troubles. God is not asleep. He cannot be caught off guard when we or others make a mess of our lives. He always has a plan to deliver those who submit to Him amidst our trials. The road will not be easy. Some of the negative effects will outlive us, but God can still bring blessings and save anyone willing to ultimately trust Him. Are you willing to submit your complications to God?—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, June 19, 2017
“And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?” (Genesis 16:13).
We humans are uniquely gifted in the area of making a mess of our lives. God is uniquely sovereign and well able to overrule in every situation we surrender to Him.
If you are into rubbish television with scandalous, twisted plots and few redeeming qualities stop wasting your time and read the Bible. Some of the stories are stranger than fiction, and the Lord’s hand is clearly seen. The story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar is our case study today.
God tells Abraham that He is going to give him descendants that would be so plentiful that He compared them to the sands of the sea and stars of the sky. He also promised immense blessing through His descendants. The problem (not really a problem) was that Abraham and Sarah were old, fruitless, and barren. For whatever his reasons given the biological details, Abraham thinks he’s giving God an idea of how to fulfil His promise. He could do it through one of his servants. News flash, Abraham: God doesn’t need your help, and that’s not what He said. You and Sarah will have a son. The blessing would come through him.
Fast forward: Sarah, not wanting to be outdone on the give God a not-so-bright idea front, told Abraham to have sex with her maidservant, Hagar, and that would be their contribution to the Lord’s ability to keep His promise. Abraham goes in to Hagar, they have sex, she has a son, and everything goes haywire (to say the least). There’s trouble in the camp. The wife and concubine are having conflict. The wife is the boss, but the concubine is pregnant. Very complicated!
To make a long, sordid story short, Hagar runs away from the house, and the Lord visits her at a fountain in Shur. He tenderly told Hagar to go back home and submit to Sarah, promised to multiply the offspring of her son, Ishmael, and gave her a heads-up about how his descendants would war with everyone around them.
God was so patient in this years long ordeal. He finally did give Abraham and Sarah the promised offspring through whom Messiah did come. He did have to further test Abraham's faith. He continues to manage the unquenchable conflicts between Ishmael’s offspring and the rest of the world.
Among the many lessons we can learn from this story is found in Hagar’s interaction with God. As He tenderly instructed her at the fountain, she immediately began to understand that He sees and hears all of our troubles. God is not asleep. He cannot be caught off guard when we or others make a mess of our lives. He always has a plan to deliver those who submit to Him amidst our trials. The road will not be easy. Some of the negative effects will outlive us, but God can still bring blessings and save anyone willing to ultimately trust Him. Are you willing to submit your complications to God?—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)