Introduction
- 2023 has had one primary “purpose”: To know there is a God!
-- Continuing our series, “Alpha and Omega”; examining the beginning to the end
- Last week we examined the promise God gave Abram which is also for us!
-- Even in the face of despair and frustration (which many face today) there’s hope
-- God is still the God who authors our faith, and completes it by His righteousness
-- If Abram could receive such a promise and believe, can’t we? Will we?
- Abram’s belief is what brought him righteousness … and the same applies to us
-- IF we will believe, and receive God’s promise, we too will be seen as righteous
- Perfect? No. Blameless? No. Incredibly attractive and sweet? No.
-- However, righteousness in God’s eyes is worth so much more because of Jesus
-- Righteousness is what brings us forgiveness – which leads to hope of eternity
- Today, study the birth of the Arab nation – of them as a people, roots, origin
-- But it is all centered around one key word: impatience
-- Impatience is an emotion that gets tired of waiting or is fed up with delays
-- Impatience causes us to act or react before we should
- This morning, let’s just rip the Band-Aid off with a quick poll
-- Show of hands … how many people are impatient?
-- Remember, lying is a sin (smile) … so I’ll ask again: how many are impatient?
- Being impatient is 100% a human trait, it is part of that sinful path of destruction
-- Adam and Eve were inpatient in the garden because they wanted a quick snack
-- And in that, it fractured and destroyed their relationship with God forever
- So, let’s not beat ourselves up … yet knowing who we are allows us to change
-- It is in this that we can really see ourselves, and seek God’s mercy intently
- Let’s dive in … Read Genesis 16:1-16 / Pray
- TR: What does impatience look like? First, we must examine …
Point 1 – The causes of impatience
a. An unfulfilled desire (v1)
- Sarah was desperate to have a child; children meant acceptance in society
-- She’s now 75 yrs. old, childless, and she feels like time is running out
-- Her impatience increasing – she feels she must act now
b. A mistaken thought (v1)
- One thought that must have haunted her: “Why am I unable to have children?”
-- Naturally, this would lead her to question God’s promise to Abram
-- Perhaps the promise didn’t include her? What would become of her?
-- Naturally, this would cause anyone’s patience to wear thin
- For us: We must know that God instructs us to hear from Him, and when we do to rely on His word / promise: Psalms 62:5, “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.”
-- In her mind, she blames God for this condition, and confides in Abram
-- Her logic: The Lord has prevented me from having a child, so I have an idea!
-- Warning: If your rationale begins like this, you’re probably about to sin …
c. A worldly or carnal suggestion (v2)
- There was a custom: If a wife could not have a child, the maid could surrogate
-- However, this custom (to have an heir) was devised by man, not by God (key)
-- God’s word has always enforced monogamy – one man / one woman
-- And of note, Sarah suggested this arrangement … not Abram
- Her idea is commendable; she wanted Abram to bring the promised seed
-- And she was willing to sacrifice – but at the cost of following the “world”
- God’s word makes a very strong plea to stay faithful: Romans 12:1-2, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
- TR: A carnal spirit will lead us to follow the world’s suggestions
-- It can take us into sin, and hold us captive forever
-- Abram’s response: “Sounds good to me!” (Bruh … )
-- This leads us to our second point …
Point 2 – The consequences of impatience
a. Impatience results in wrong plans and methods (v3)
- Yes, Sarah’s motives are good – she wanted to see God’s will done
-- She wanted salvation to come – she wanted to see the promised seed given
-- And she knew they were at (if not beyond) the years of childbirth
- The delays, the waiting, the questioning, all led her to an irrational choice
-- She devises a plan to “help God out”; but let’s see ourselves here …
-- Don’t Miss: When we try to force the hand of God, we are out of His will
-- APP: We are pushing for a result to happen that it is not time for!
b. Impatience leads to the collapse of faith and patience
- By this time, Abram had been walking with God for ~10 years
-- We saw last week God’s promised through a wonderful vision (count stars)
-- But here, his own wife is offering a test of his faith and trust in God
-- Rationale: “Honey, God didn’t mention me, so maybe it’s another?”
- Since she has never had children before – this could be a solid argument
-- But see this – this goes right to the heart of Abram’s purpose on Earth
-- RE: He will usher in the new nation – promised seed – so why not follow Sarah?
-- Naturally, there would have been a human appeal as well (lust of the eyes)
- The result is simple: Abram side-steps God and his faith for this solution
-- Carnally, it seems to be the best way to have a child and move forward
-- APP: “Let me just give God a helping hand here …” BUT! Watch this …
c. Impatience always leads to sinful behavior (v4-6)
- RE: God’s instruction to pause: Psalms 27:14, “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
-- Need to see four things that come from this kind of behavior and impatience:
1. There are sins of immorality, adultery, and polygamy – Abram took Hagar
- We have the violation of the marriage, at Sarah’s request (forgot Egypt?)
2. There are sins of malice, spite, and a haughty spirit – Sarah despised Hagar
- Hagar I am sure looked down on Sarah as well (“why can’t you have kids?”)
-- Hagar must’ve felt all kinds of supreme and haughty over this …
3. There are sins of jealousy / blaming others – Sarah’s jealousy is strong
- So what does she do? She blames Abram for the affair! (v5)
-- She had some real scorn for Hagar – why? Because Abram loved her too!
-- So much so, she asked God to intervene & judge between Abram & Sarah (v5)
4. There is the sin of disturbed relationships
- Sarah’s anger was now about to spill over and ruin Abram / Hagar relationship
-- Abram simply gives in and tells her to deal with it however she wants (v6)
- Before we move on to the last point, need us to see something
-- Life is tough, but there is hope when we feel God is not moving quickly
-- There is true promise of strength in these times: James 1:2-4, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (unpack bold)
-- TR: ASK: How does anyone, this far down the rabbit hole, turn it around?
Point 3 – The solution (or answer) to impatience
- Gratefully, we see there is a response and a way to turn this around
-- However, look who received God’s encouragement – it’s Hagar!
-- RE: Sarah forced her hand into this, and then mistreated her, and God saw it!
-- IMP: God’s angel asks where she’s going to arouse conviction in her heart (v7)
-- APP: To draw her into intimacy & conviction with God; to change
a. The solution is: First, there needs to be a confrontation with God (v7-9)
- Impatience always leads to acting with intent to mistreat, or have a wrong focus
-- For example: “I’m mad at the situation I created so I’ll make it your fault!”
-- However, God’s instruction is always to rely on Him; to lean in
-- Genesis 49:18, “I trust in you for salvation, O Lord!”
b. Second, we must receive the promises of God (v10-12)
- Hagar receives promise: God has heard her & will meet her needs, IF she obeys
-- Even the name of her son, Ishmael, means “God hears”
-- Psalms 34:18, “The Lord is close to the broken hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Lesson: God still cares for you)
- Note what God does: He predicts Ishmael’s future
-- He will be a wild man, stubborn, self-willed, and so will his descendants
-- God will provide IF they are faithful to obey and follow Him alone
-- Interesting note: Muhammed is from the land of Ishmael; departed from God
-- EX: Muslims believe that Jesus was a precursor to Muhammad, and that he (Jesus) prophesied the latter's eventual coming (see the turn-around here …)
c. Third, we must start by worshiping and praising God (v13)
- Hagar refers to God as El Roi; which means “the God who sees me”
-- God saw her broken heart and her need – knows, this was not her fault
-- For us, consider who God is, Isaiah 66:2, “My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.”
d. Fourth, and most importantly, we must obey God (v15)
- What happens now happens quickly: Hagar returns home, and a son is born
-- How? Because repentance is the only thing that can turn a situation around
-- Isaiah 33:2 says, “But Lord, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you. Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble.”
-- We can draw a line to conclude that Abram and Sarah also repented
-- Hagar was accepted back into their home – there had to be repentance
- How do we apply this and draw close to God?
-- BIG APP: We must go before God and confront our sin
-- Simple question to ask God around this is, “What have I done?”
- Bottom line … We must obey God by being patient
-- Even when the times are tough, and we feel like God should act … must wait!
-- Even Peter understood this, gives great insight: 1 Peter 2:20, “Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.”
-- Will we live with a purpose of wanting to repent and please God?
-- When we do, we see that God provides AND He delivers hope! …
- Pray
