The Power Of Patience

Now, her name is Hagar. “And Sarai said to Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing” (Genesis 16:2). Well, if God restrained her, then why didn’t she wait? “The Lord,” she said, “the Lord has just put a stop on it,” so she’s not going to let God slow her down. “I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai” (Genesis 16:2). Now, what she says is this: “I want children, and I want them now. You take my maid as your concubine and see if you can father a child by her.” And, Abram said he would do it. Notice verse 3: “And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife” (Genesis 16:3). Now, that was legal in this day. It wasn’t right, and it wasn’t moral.

There are a lot of things that are legal that are not moral. This was legal in his day, and Abram did that. He took his wife’s maid. And, notice in verse 4 how God let them have their own way. Now, notice verse 4: “And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes” (Genesis 16:4).

Now, notice what happens: God lets them have their own way. And, when they get what they want, they don’t want what they get. One of the most telling statements that I’ve heard in a long time is what George McDonald had to say. He said this: “In whatever a man does without God he must fail miserably or succeed even more miserably.” May I say that again? “In whatever a man does without God he must fail miserably or succeed even more miserably.” They had success. They had a baby.

Did you know that God’s greatest judgment, when we get antsy and don’t wait on God, is to let us have our own way. And, when we get what we want, we don’t want what we get? I heard about a little boy named Johnny who loved pancakes. He was greedy at the table—eating pancakes and always wanting more. One day, his mother said, “I believe I’ll give him all he can eat.” She sat him down, and fixed the batter, and said, “Johnny, have some more pancakes.” He ate them. “Have some more pancakes.” He ate them. “Have some more pancakes.” He ate them. After a while, he wasn’t asking for anymore. She said, “Johnny, don’t you want some more pancakes?” He said, “No ma’am.” He said, “I don’t even want the ones I’ve had now.” When we get what we want, we don’t want what we get.

And so, now, she begins to blame others. Look in verse 5 of this same chapter: “And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into my bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee” (Genesis 16:5). Now, she’s blaming others. And, in verse 15—skip on down—Ishmael is born: “And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael” (Genesis 16:15). He tried to hurry the harvest, and there’s been nothing but trouble ever since, and no peace—no peace—for the sons of Abraham. I’m telling you, dear friend, that endurance brings tranquility.