Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.  Genesis 16:1-2

 

Notice who Sarah blamed for her inability to have children. She blamed God.  Now the Lord had told these two on numerous occasions they were going to have a child of promise. Since the Lord’s word had yet to come to pass… it was totally God’s fault. In Sarah’s mind God was working behind the scenes preventing her from having children.  The truth was God was working on the character of Abraham and Sarah so that they might value and cherish the child He provided. It is one thing to receive a promise from God.  It is another thing to keep or maintain a promise from God once it is provided.

Sarah wrongly concluded that she needed to help God. Her thought processes probably flowed along these lines… “God has had ten years to give us a child.  God needs a hand to get it done.  Maybe God has been waiting on me!  Hagar is fit and can bear children.  I will give her to Abraham and maybe the Lord will bless this alternate plan. Others have produced heirs in this fashion, maybe it will work for us.”

The problem was Abraham believed the voice of Sarah over the words God had already spoken to Him. He traded “God’s Idea” for a “good idea“.

Many believers have fallen prey to this type of thinking.  Sarah wasn’t the first and our generation will not be the last.  I have heard some say, “If I don’t give my money this church, it will not make it.” Even pastors have wrongly concluded, “This church would be nothing without me.”

The truth is God does not need our money, our presence, or our help to continue His work. If the Lord’s work is dependent upon us, then it is probably not the Lord’s work.  He simply invites us to join Him and work alongside in faith where He is already moving.  If His will is dependent upon us moving in the flesh to accomplish His tasks, then we are the ones who will get the glory.  When we truly follow the Lord’s plan and will, He receives all the glory.

Who are you working for today?

 

Blessings,

Pastor