August 4, 2026

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. However, she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, ‘The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.’ Abram agreed to what Sarai said.” (Genesis 16.1-2)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

One of the realities reflected upon when it comes to Abram is the dynamic we all face: making good choices. When he follows God’s direction, there are blessings and the blessing to be a blessing. When he decides on the direction he believes he should go, there are pitfalls and negative consequences. As we move into another part of his life in relationship to his wife, Sarai, we add another gaff in good thinking. The first, if you remember, was directing Sarai to pretend to be his sister. The hope was to bring favor on Abram and save the entire entourage by appearing to be an eligible woman for Pharoah. I have no idea what Abram could have said to her that would have convinced her to participate in such a charade. I won’t even try to guess what deal would have been agreed upon between them. We know that Pharoah became sick and knew it was a consequence of having dealt with Abram. Upon learning Sarai was Abram’s wife, they and the whole entourage were told to leave Egypt and never come back. They returned to the Negev from which they had originally departed. At first glance the Negev was a wasteland and a waste of time. It was seen as unsupportive in providing for Abram; especially in a time of famine and drought. That present reality caused Abram to act on his own and head down to Egypt instead of trusting in God to provide. (Yes, we hear some foreshadowing of the days of Joseph. Fortunately, in the days of Joseph, there was a reconciliation with the wisdom being declared “What you intended for harm, God used for good.” However, it would not always be that way as the people remained and fell into slavery.) When Abram returned to the Negev and settled there, the resources were uncovered which led Abram and Lot to profits beyond measure.

Now today, Abram agrees to another lack of good judgment. Which would have been harder? Should he had refused Sarai’s plan to prosper her desire to have a family (and coincidentally making it possible, by the letter of the law, for Abram to have an heir and say “it is God’s will.”)? It might have been one of those fierce conversations. Or was Abram weak enough to accept the offer of Hagar as a “baby maker” and intimate friend? Regardless, Abram submitted and in so doing brought humiliation to Sarai by default. Of course, Ishmael would not be the heir of Abram and the link to the fulfillment of God’s promise. The contention wrought between Sarai, Hagar and Abram was a fatal mistake. Learning from Joseph now, we might make a similar declaration “What was meant for good but created harm, God was able to use to make better.” Sarai nor Abram nor Hagar had any intention for harm at the outset. Their decisions did not involve God. They became the opportunity of God to intervene and demonstrate His sovereignty. God loved them, in spite of their decisions, and had to cover them over with mercy and grace.

Mighty ones of God, He continues to do the same for us. How much better it seems, does it not, that following God’s lead in all our decisions is “the way, the truth and the life.” The best decision of all would be to make Jesus Christ, Lord of our lives.

TODAY’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness endeavor, but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.