The Ishmael "Strategy"

If you’ve ever waited on God, you would understand what Abraham went through.

 

By Ben Dankaka

After God reassured Abraham that he would have a son, “Abraham believed the Lord” (Genesis 15:6). But despite Abraham’s faith, the child didn’t come. Abraham might have pondered why his wife didn’t have a child in spite of God’s promise. If you’ve ever waited on God to fulfill his promises to you, you would understand what Abraham went through. Abraham had done what God had asked him to do by leaving his own country to a foreign land. Now that he was becoming old, God was still

reassuring him that he would have possession over the land he was renting.

So, when Abraham’s wife came up with the idea that Abraham should sleep with her maidservant so they can build a dynasty through her, Abraham fell for it. At that time, Abraham was not only concerned with having a son that would inherit his wealth; he also wanted to build a family. Although the idea came from Sarah, the decision was taken by Abraham. Therefore, we shouldn’t crucify Sarah. Abraham, whom God had spoken to, should have known better. What Abraham did, is what usually happens when we let others get in the way of our divine assignment. Stay focused!

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to stay focused. Amen.

 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 15:1-10; Genesis 16:1-3

 

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.