Blessed Up Plan

Blessed Up Plan

Genesis 16: ⁷ Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. ⁸ And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

 

She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”

 

⁹ The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” ¹⁰ Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” ¹¹ And the Angel of the Lord said to her:

 

“Behold, you are with child,
And you shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the Lord has heard your affliction.
¹² He shall be a wild man;
His hand shall be against every man,
And every man’s hand against him.
And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

 

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Hagar fled into the wilderness from Sarai. Abram heard from the LORD that he would have countless descendants. Sarai was barren and made Abram marry her maid Hagar so she would confiscate her child. But she got jealous and began to abuse Hagar.  Having nowhere to go, Hagar sat by a spring.

 

JESUS came to her and asked her questions HE knew the answers to. She did not tell HIM the full story, rather an abbreviated version. HE told her to go back. HE then said HE would make her have countless descendants.

 

My Observations:

• JESUS knew the mess Sarai made and blessed the plan anyway.
• JESUS saw Hagar, who never bowed to HIM before, and came to her because she was part of a larger plan.
• JESUS sent her back to a hostile place, but gave her a new spark of life, knowing she would be the mother of a great multitude of people.

 

What a messed-up plan. Sarai introduced dysfunction that would remain for years. Hagar may have feared for her life. BUT GOD told her HIS plan of protection. She could then, go back and face the harsh treatment. Despite the trouble, Hagar would become the mother of countless people.

 

Challenge

• Why does JESUS tell Moses about HIS conversation with Hagar?
• Have you ever been in a difficult situation and wanted to escape?
• Even if it is difficult, will you continue on the journey with JESUS as your teacher and guide?