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You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth. Daily Bible Study
Lesson # Genesis 16:4-6 Study Material - Genesis 16:4-6 You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth. Gen. 16:4-6 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, 'May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms; but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me.' 6 But Abram said to Sarai, 'Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.' So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence. Things go from bad to worse, and not only for Abram, but for all concerned. Sarai comes up with a plan for Abram's child. Abram of course 'innocently' agrees. After all, who is he to argue with his wife. Especially when she is giving him permission to fool around with her maid. Probably a lust which was already there, and now given some clearance for pursuit by his very wife. A desire unfulfilled brings about frustration, then anger and argument, perhaps hate, and certainly blame, for it is far easier to blame others when you do not have the things you think you should have. All this culminates in bad decisions. When the sin nature rules, disaster results. Here we have yet another principle in conflict. That of the right wife verses the wrong wife, or the legitimate blessing verses the illegitimate blessing. Throughout our lives we are faced with decisions. God always gives us enough information to help us make the right choices in life. Abram had that information. He was married. He knew that his wife would be the only person to provide him with a legitimate heir. And if not her, then she would die in due course and he would marry another woman in the proper sequence of life and in an honorable way. Abram let his desire drive his decisions. He complained about not having an heir. Big deal! If this is his only problem in life, then he really has no basis to complain. Many people out there in the world have far less than Abram had. Abram had 318 adult males in his employ. Men who were willing to fight in a war against overwhelming odds. Abram had loyalty. Not only did these men work for him, but their families were there too. This could easily add up to maybe 2000 people in Abram's organization. Why so many? Abram had huge herds and flocks of animals. He was not a poor man by any means. He was very wealthy. He had a business, income, employees, house servants, lots of assets. To put this in even more perspective. He had a spiritual life and the promise from God, which no other man in history would have. He knew it and everyone else knew it, too. But Abram is feeling sorry for himself and getting away from Bible doctrine. Even believers, even wealthy believers, even wealthy mature believers make mistakes. No one is immune to failure when they get away from their Bible study. And when believers make mistakes, the repercussions generally do not stop. They escalate. Abram slept with Hagar. He kept sleeping with her until she became pregnant. Hagar became impertinent with Sarai. Thinking herself better than her mistress. Sarai became vindictive. Abram didn't want to have anything to do with either one of them.. So the bad decision becomes hate and disrespect for authority (Hagar), abuse of authority (Sarai), and uninvolvement (Abram). Abram had a choice and he had the means to make the correct choice. Often God will let us attempt to make the correct choice, and when we fail, or otherwise demonstrate our inability to make the right choices, then God will step in and overrule our life. We are in a situation and need to make a move out of that situation. We can either remain or we can go from it. We have to make the choice based on Bible doctrine. Will staying help or hinder us? Will leaving help or hinder us? If we do not make a choice then God may make that choice for us. We may be caught up in a storm, or a economic disaster (layoff), or a medical dilemma of some kind which forces us to make a choice. Here God overrules and moves us to where we should be. Perhaps separating us from a situation that will be bad for us. Later we will see that God will allow Abram to die sexually. His urges and abilities just won't be there any more. Likewise Sarai will go through menopause - no more ovary activity. Now God has his attention and Abram will be in a helpless state. He will have no choice but to trust in God. Now he has choices and he makes bad decisions. Actually everyone makes bad decisions. And no one accepts responsibility for their decisions either. Blame is the easier route. When making decisions, ask the following questions. Why do you want to make this decision? For self? For family? For career? For lust or sin of some type? Sort it all out and do not try to help God with His work. He can do things far better than any of us. In all things, your spiritual life should come first for that inevitably provides for all else. Your career or income production next for that takes care of your family. Your family and spouse third, for these first three make the whole of you. And whatever you desire for yourself comes last. 
Now is the time to post a prayer. End Of Lesson Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth. |
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