Genesis Ch.16 (2)

Father we thank you for Your Word that brings light and revelation. May You give us understanding and wisdom as we read and share it in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Today's post is a continuation of Genesis chapter 16. Yesterday, we saw how Sarai erroneously believed that God was the one who restrained her from having children and Hebrews 11:11 tells us the moment she was able to shift her perspective to see God's faithfulness, she conceived her baby.

Before we get to Sarai's conception, this chapter shows us an Abram and Sarai who knew about God's promise which included blessing them with a child but neverthless, they decided to "help God" through their works. Genesis 16:3-4 tells us that Sarai, gave her maid, Hagar, to Abram and surely she conceived a baby. However, this decision, as expected, caused tension between Abram and Sarai as Sarai believed she was despised in Hagar's eyes the moment she conceived child. Later on, we see Hagar fleeing from Sarai as she dealt harshly with her maid servant (Genesis 16:5-6).

The part I find interesting about this text is the Angel of the LORD who met with Hagar and encouraged her to return to her mistress, Sarai (Genesis 16:9). In Genesis 16:11, "And the angel of the LORD said to her: "Behold you are with a child, and you shall bear a son. You shall call his name, Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your affliction.

We see Hagar returning to her mistress after this encounter with the Angel of the LORD and in Genesis 16:15, "So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael."

I believe we all agree that Abram was not present when the Angel of the LORD appeared to Hagar and shared the baby's name with her.

Nevertheless, we see that Abram still had the same revelation of his son's name, Ishmael, (Genesis 16:15) which name the Angel of the LORD had shared with Hagar during their encounter. This shows that Abram was a man in consistent fellowship with God.

Later on in the New Testament, we see a similar story of Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth who were parents of John the Baptist. When their child was born, his mother named him John but she received opposition from the people around her who contested no one in their family had that name. Thankfully, Zacharias' whose mouth the LORD had sealed was finally made able to speak after he confirmed the name of his son as John (Luke 1:63-64).

These stories show us the importance of names and the importance of seeking God's heart and His will in all things so He can provide you with a full revelation of the plans and purposes that He has for your life, your children and loved ones.

I'll end with this Word found in Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

AMEN. THANK YOU LORD FOR THE GOOD PLANS YOU HAVE FOR OUR LIVES. Amen

Invitation to salvation: Those who call on the name of the LORD will be saved and will be attuned to God's heart of love for them and vice versa. If this is you - I invite you to make this confession:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17) where you get to freely access everything I've shared in this post. To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

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