Word for the day by Christian Education forum

TRUSTING IN GOD’S PROMISES
Genesis 21: 1-21

God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. (Genesis 21: 16)
Sarah’s experience – Human instinct of testing God’s promise

Sarah, bearing a child at her age was beyond her wildest imagination. She had just seen the absolute power and bountiful grace of God.  At this point, she probably was sitting back and thinking about how God could fulfill any promise he makes and how all the efforts of man were dwarfed by the absolute power of God. In the midst of this thinking, her human instincts kicked – all the understanding of God’s ability to provide faded to the background and her protective instinct about Isaac kicked in and she worried about sharing of the inheritance with Hagar’s son.  In our lives, do we sometimes feel the need to control things which we know we should leave to God? Jesus also talks about not worrying as every little detail is taken care of in our lives.  The world teaches us about limited resources and doing what it takes to get those- The Lord teaches us to trust and obey. When everything seems to be working out for us in life, can we pause a moment to be thankful and share the blessing rather than think about fighting for even more resources?

 Hagar’s experience of trust - seeing the light at the end of the tunnel:

 The Hagar experience is the other end of the spectrum. Culturally as a slave, being asked to bear a child was a decision in which she had no say. At this point, now that her mistress has had her child, she is being sent out into the desert with not enough water to keep her infant alive. Her heart must have broken to sit at a distance knowing her child is dying and not being able to do anything about it. The complete loss of control and sense of being wronged- some of us may feel we are at the spot today or even relate to this from your past. It’s a not a happy moment - But trusting that God is in charge is not optional.  A Don Moen gospel song really sums it up “Though I may not understand, the plans he has for me, through the eyes of faith, I can clearly see, God is good, All the time”. In that moment, God stepped in for Hagar and not only provided for the immediate need but blessed her son to be a great nation. We too have to trust in God’s promises

Prayer: Lord, teach me to trust in the midst of success and in the times where it appears nothing is working out. Teach me to be gracious and sharing of the blessings that you have given us. Amen.

Dr. Binu Jose, Toronto

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