“So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife.”        Genesis 16:3 NIV

Abram had been walking with the Lord for a long time, for over ten years. Just a short while before this event, the Lord had given Abram a glorious vision of Himself and His promises. He had reassured Abram that he was to bear the promised seed and inherit the promised land (Genesis 15:1-21). But now, Abram was facing the test of his life. Why? Because the test was thrust upon him by his wife and her strong arguments. She must have argued that the Lord never mentioned her name in giving the promises; that the promises must not, therefore, include her. The promised seed must involve another woman. Moreover, she had never been able to have children; therefore, she could not be the Lord’s appointed mother to bear the promised seed. On and on Sarai must have argued. The test struck at the very heart and purpose for Abram being on earth. The very reason he had left Ur of the Chaldees and moved to Canaan. He wanted above all else to see the promise of God fulfilled, and he wanted to have a significant part in God’s glorious plan of salvation for the earth. The test appealed to the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh, to sex, the most intimate relationship existing between man and woman. Sarai won the argument and stirred Abram to question! Abram’s faith and patience collapsed. He felt he could wait no longer, so he took matters into his own hands. Oh, the results!

PRAYER THOUGHT

Whatever the test, Holy Spirit, we keep our eyes on our Lord.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Holy Spirit, whatever the trial or test, keep our eyes focussed on our Lord and the promises of His Word. AMEN

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Matthew 18:1-14

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