But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
Genesis 16:6
I never thought I would side with Hagar, but this shutdown is teaching me there is a first time for everything. When Hagar runs away from Sarai’s brutal treatment and Abram’s carelessness, I get it. I would run away too.
The angel of the Lord found her in verse 7 (guess who that is) and he tells her to go back to the suffering. However, he arms her with a promise first. Something wonderful will come out of the suffering. She can’t see it yet but it’s waiting for her. Her obedience is the water that makes the seed of the promise grow.
We may think that our suffering is meaningless. We may want to escape, but everything we suffer is designed specifically for a future glory. Not our glory but the Lord’s. Let’s submit ourselves to the Lord during these curious days. Remember Peter’s words, “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19).
Music: Unto the Lamb, Russ Taff.
Prayer Request: Please pray for the South Asian Unengaged Peoples. This request comes from the International Mission Board prayer list.
- The Habura people are an unengaged, unreached people group located in the Brij region of India. They have an estimated population of 6,900 and have been found in the district of Aligarh. This people group has a reputation of rebellion and criminal activity, which has led them to be feared in the eyes of the community. There is little to no work going on among the Habura. By God’s grace, there are a reported two families from this people group who have started attending a local church. Pray that these families will come to faith and be baptized. Pray that through them, more of their kinsmen will hear and respond to the gospel through their witness.
- Mindy Hammond’s father was taken to the hospital with a UTI. Please pray for him and his wife during their separation.
Catechism: The Principles of the Christian Religion.
Question 91: What is the tenth and last commandment?
Answer: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any things that is thy neighbor’s.
Question 92: What does this commandment contain?
Answer: It condemns all wandering thoughts, that disagree from the love which we owe unto our neighbors although we never yield consent thereunto.
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
All my best.
And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
Genesis 16:9
The Bible Bistro 