Day 19, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today's Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Genesis 16–18
What to Do While Waiting
An audio version of this Bible study is available here
Someone in authority says to us, “Don’t do anything until I get back! When I return, I will take care of it.” But what if that person delays coming? And, what if things don’t seem to be going the way we think they should? Perhaps, we should help things along. After all, doesn’t the Bible say, “God helps those who help themselves?” Does it? Should we? Let’s look at the lives of Abram and Sari to learn from them.
Situational ethics; plan B
For ten years, Abram and Sarai lived in a strange land because God promised that Abram would have a son. Now, he is eighty-five, and she is seventy-five. Even if they still had their youthful vigor (people in their time lived much longer), it didn’t look like God was going to answer their prayers.
Maybe the LORD needs help? It could be that he wants them to show some ingenuity— God gave them minds to use, right? We demonstrate our faith by our works, right? Yes, both statements are correct. However, God didn’t say to Abram and Sarai, “work it out yourselves.” He gave them an unconditional promise that he would bring it to pass. Now, they need to show their faith in God by waiting.
What about us? Will we wait for God to work, or will we make our own plans if he doesn’t deliver on our time table?
In today’s Bible reading, Sarai devises a plan to help God (Genesis 16:1-16). She is barren but can exercise a common practice of the day to have children by her maidservant. Since Hagar is her maidservant, she can become Abram’s wife, and then the children she bears become the sons and daughters of her master and mistress.The plan fails
Sarai’s plan doesn’t work out well. True, Hagar does get pregnant, but then she despises Sarai, thinking herself better than her mistress for carrying Abram’s child. Sarai blames Abram. Although he might argue that point, he doesn’t; instead, he leaves the situation in Sarai’s hands.
Sarai mistreats Hagar, and so she flees. Abram should have been a man and stood against Sarai’s plan to give God help, but he didn’t. After waiting ten years for her to become pregnant, maybe Abram was also giving up hope. We do a lot of dumb and desperate things when we lose hope. Because Abram doesn’t follow God’s leadership, he has to bear the departure of his wife, Hagar, and their newborn son (Abram’s first and only child at that time).
Abram and Sarai had to wait fifteen more years for God to fulfill his promise to them. That is a total of twenty-five years since they were initially promised a son. What are we waiting for God to do in our lives? How long are we willing to wait for him?
Grace
What happens to Hagar and her son—are they forgotten? Do they die in the wilderness? No, God is merciful and gracious. This is an encouraging message for those suffering from domestic violence. As God sees the distress of Hagar in the wilderness, pregnant and fleeing from the mistreatment of Sarai, the LORD also sees abused wives (or husbands) and children, and he cares.When the LORD reveals himself to Hagar in the wilderness and gives her hope, she gives him an endearing name. The name Hagar gives for God is Beer Lahai Roi, which means the “Living One sees me.” God is not just Beer Lahai Roi for Hagar; the Living One also sees us in our distress. He then directs Hagar to return to her home and be submissive to her mistress (which she apparently had not been).
Please note: God’s instructions to Hagar to go back home doesn’t necessarily mean that others in abusive situations should do the same. Hagar was a slave, not a wife on equal par with Sarai. She had no rights of her own. Today, if a woman is mistreated, she may have to remove herself from the situation and seek the outside help of a friend, family member, police, or pastor. God will provide hope and protection if those who are abused or otherwise mistreated follow his leadership.
Be loyal and committed
In today’s marriages, we have wedding rings as symbols of our commitment to a lifetime of love. In Abram’s day, the sign for his dedication to the LORD was the circumcision of all males (Genesis 17:12-14). This was a conditional covenant. His family’s obedience symbolized their willingness to cut off their carnal life (their sinful culture) and live for God.
The circumcision of Jewish babies and many non-Jewish babies around the world have been practiced since that time. While circumcision is now more of a tradition than a requirement; there are, however, health benefits to the procedure (more...). God was likely looking out for their health. Still, his primary intent for circumcision was to symbolize the circumcision of their hearts (Deuteronomy 10:16).
Spiritual circumcision is what the LORD still desires for all Christians, male and female. Spiritually speaking, what are we willing to cut out of our lives so we can live for God?
The physical symbol which we have today to show our dedication to God is not circumcision but water baptism (Acts 8:12-13). Have we been baptized to show others our commitment to live for our Lord? Are we living up to it?
Do God’s will his way
While waiting for God, we need to do what he wants us to do, the way he wants us to do it until he comes back.
Abram is a man of faith, and for the most part, he has good character. God chooses him to fulfill his plan for the world and changes Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “father of many” nations. He is a patriarch of the faith.
While Abraham is waiting for the LORD, three strangers come to his tent from a desert journey. He is not mean or rude to them—he is hospitable. He welcomes the strangers and feeds them. The writer of the book of Hebrews says, “do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it (this doesn’t include obviously dangerous people). Abraham is sensitive to the weary travelers, wandering around in the heat of the desert sun. He offers them water and something to eat to refresh and revive them.
Doom and pleas for mercy
From the strangers’ conversation, Abraham learns they are messengers from God, sent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their perversions and wickedness. One of the messengers is probably a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ since he is called the LORD (Genesis 18).
Abraham is concerned—his nephew Lot and his family live in Sodom! With compassion, he pleads with the LORD to save the righteous in the city, even if they are few. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed by fire and brimstone; only Lot and his daughters are saved.
In Jude 7, Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction is likened to the destruction of sinners in hell’s eternal fires. Our response should be like Abraham’s (Jude 22-23); we should have compassion on people and seek to save them from this everlasting judgment. A true personal relationship with God brings spiritual life and peace (more..).
The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T., by Walvoord and Zuck, ©1985, p.56
Discussion
When waiting for God, what doesn’t work so well?
What should we do while waiting for God?
Abram made many mistakes. Abraham becomes a patriarch of the faith. What does he do right that is an example for us?
Focus Verses
Psalm 27:14 (NIV) “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
Jude 1:22-23 (NIV) “And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
Watch a Video illustrating today's Bible lesson here. Start at 12:34 and Stop at 18:56
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Looking Ahead: What happens if we do not wait and keep trusting God? We may have to be Rescued. Learn more in our Next Lesson.
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