Sarai – Judy in the Sky

Read Genesis 17 – Faith and time – Abram is 99 years old and Sarai is 90. It has been roughly 23 years since the LORD promised Abram he would be the father of many, and 13 years since God reminded Abram of His promise after the birth of Ishmael.

God is outside of time. Just because you have to wait longer than you want, do not lose faith.

The LORD gives Abram a new name. Abram means ‘the father of many’; his new name will be Abraham, meaning ‘the father of many nations’. (:5) The LORD makes a covenant with Abraham to give him and his offspring the land of Canaan and to be their God.

This covenant will be sealed through the act of circumcision… much like Salvation in Christ Jesus is offered, yet one must seal it by saying yes and asking Jesus to be their Lord and Savior.

God required circumcision of every male, 8 days old and older. Science would discover the 7th day of life is when an infant’s immune system begins to mature and their bodies develop blood clotting agents (vitamin k and prothrombin), making the 8th day the most optimal… as God knew all along.

The LORD also has a promise for Sarai, and a new name, Sarah. Both versions mean princess, the first Sarai, is to one family; the second Sarah is princess over a multitude.

In verses 17-22 we see how very real Abraham’s relationship is with the LORD, pointing out the problem of their advanced years and suggesting that the LORD is referring to Ishmael, to which God says no. “But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” (:22)

We see Abraham’s great faith and leadership in :23 when he, and Ishmael and every male in his household is circumcised on that very day.

Beloved, is there something you’ve been waiting for a long time? I pray these Scriptures would refresh your faith that the LORD has not forgotten your prayers. He is at work in His timing and purpose, and when it is time, you will say, “Yes, LORD, that was perfect.”

Genesis 16 – What could go wrong?

God promised to give Abram a multitude of offspring, yet Sarai was barren, and she blamed God for her condition, saying, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children.” (:2) She decided to help God keep His promise by giving her maid, Hagar, to Abram as a surrogate.

Once pregnant, Hagar looked on Sarai with contempt :4. Sarai then gets mad at Abram! He is the spiritual leader of the household, and he’s not leading. He didn’t lead when Sarai decided to help God, and he is not leading now.

Abram bows out and reminds her Hagar is her maid and tells her to do as she pleases. Sarai treats Hagar harshly, and Hagar flees.

An angel of the LORD finds pregnant, destitute Hagar by a spring in the wilderness and talks to her. First, he asks her to open up. He lets Hagar know she is heard and understood. He tells her to return to her mistress, and he gives her some great inside information about the child she is carrying. She calls the LORD, Beer Lahai Roi, the-God-Who-Sees-Me, and does as he says. Ishmael is born when Abram is 86 years old.

Now, jump back to Chapter 12 and recall when Abram took his family to Egypt. This is most likely where Hagar was acquired, and we see this deeper fall-out from not trusting God as it continues to ripple through the lives of Abram and his people.

Beloved, there are casualties to veering off course, yet still the LORD is with you, working all things out for your good and His glory. 💖👀🤰🙌👶👀💖