Saturday, August 10, 2019

2019.08.10 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 16

Questions for Littles: Who is the primary subject of Genesis 16:1? Whose wife is she? What has she not done? What does she possess? To whom does Sarai speak in Genesis 16:2? What explanation does she give for not having borne children? What solution does she come up with? What does verse 2 say that Abram did? Who is, again, the main subject in Genesis 16:3? How long had Abram dwelt in Canaan? What happened when he followed Sarai’s advice (Genesis 16:4)? When she had conceived, what happened to Sarai in her eyes? Whom does Sarai blame for her becoming despised (Genesis 16:5)? What does she call for to happen? What does Abram say in Genesis 16:6? What does he permit Sarai to do? How does Sarai treat Hagar? What does Hagar do, when she is treated badly? Who intervenes in Genesis 16:7? Where does He find her? What does He call her in Genesis 16:8? What does He ask her? What answer does she give? What two things does the Angel of Yahweh command her in Genesis 16:9? What does He promise her in Genesis 16:10? What does He tell her about her baby in Genesis 16:11? What does He command her to do to her baby? Why? What does He tell her about her baby in Genesis 16:12? What does Hagar call Him in Genesis 16:13? What was the well called (Genesis 16:14)? Where is it? What does Hagar do in Genesis 16:15? What does Abram do? From where would he have learned to name the boy this? How old was Abram when Ishmael was born (Genesis 16:16)?
What a difficult thing patience is—even for those who have the certainty of God’s Word! But let us beware of our impatience. Ten years in the promised land, and Sarai was ready to improvise to force the issue with God’s plan and promises. Individuals, couples, families, and churches often come to a point where they say, “we’ve been trying it God’s normal way, and that isn’t working; so we need to try something new.” Impatience and unbelief can lead to “creative” disobedience.

And there’s all sorts of disorder in this passage. Abram failing to lead his house, as Sarai runs the show. Sarai mistreating her maid. Hagar failing to be faithful and submit to her anyway.

But there is One who is faithful and merciful. Yahweh, who doesn’t owe any of them anything, listens to the affliction of a maid—even though that affliction has come about as the direct result of sin. He is God who listens (Ishmael). He is God who sees (El-roi). He is God who cares for sinners—not because they are worthy of it, but because He is merciful to the unworthy for the sake of His love, and His Christ whom He has promised in that love!
In what area do you feel that you have been faithful with little fruit to show for it? How does it help you to remember that the Lord is always being faithful to you, whether you see results yet or not?
Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH256 “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”

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