It was difficult to believe in such a promise! God promised that he would have many offsprings. He and his wife had been living together for over 60 years but his wife was still barren. How could she bear him a child now? When we think about the principle of child bearing, it would be impossible for a woman who was nearly 90 years old to become pregnant. Abraham indicated that he believed in God’s promise. However, he felt he needed to do something to help God out in order to complete the promise. Therefore, he brought up his concerns and shared them with his wife.
Sarah estimated her own strength. She knew Abraham was still able to produce a child but she felt she was no longer able to bear a child. She wanted to help God finish His promise quickly. Because of her thinking, Sarah told Abraham to lay with her maidservant Agar. A healthy son was born and he was named Ishmael. But God did not recognize Ishmael as the promised child!
God’s plan is not always our plan. Cooperation with God to complete His plan is different than completing His plan through our own way. The Lord wants to perform miracles when things seem difficult or hopeless. When problems exceed our own ability to handle or beyond our imagination, it is when God acts.
When we want to clear the way for a miracle to happen or when we want to bring our own humanly method to participate with the Holy Spirit’s activity, God will completely forsake our actions because it shows lack of faith. God only wanted Sarah herself to bear Abraham a child; which would demonstrate her trust in Him. Even though God’s way may seem more difficult and may take longer, that is the only way to go and there is no substitute way.
The Spirit is the Spirit while the flesh is the flesh. We cannot link the plan of the flesh with the plan of God.
Pastor Thoai Duong
Translated by Minh Merideth
