by Joyce Adedayo Adams on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 4:51pm
Gen 16:1-6 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee. But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
Hagar’s name translated in the Hebrew language means a “stranger or one that fears”. In the Arabic language, it means “forsaken or flight”. (This is very vital for this write up!) In our time and day, Hagar is anything and everything in our lives and around us that is mocking our barrenness. Hagar is anything that stands in our way of fruitfulness. Hagar is that dreadful sin/habit sticking to you like a leech. Hagar is anything that presents itself as a substitute for God’s perfect will in your life. Hagar is a stranger in your home, it does not belong to you or near you, it is not meant to be given a place of comfort, it is not meant to have a place or position of any sort in your life.
Ishmael is the fruit or result of Hagar. A wrong turn or decision you took 2, 3, 5 years ago, the effects or results of which haunts or taunts you and makes mockery of the promises of God for your life. Ishmael is also anything that reminds you of your lack or barrenness. It sure reminded Sarah every time she looked at him!
Isaac is God’s promise to you. It is your long awaited miracle, your joy.
In bible times, female slaves are considered to be a personal possession of the wife. A wife can do as she pleases with her maid. An example of this is Rachel and her sister Leah. They also gave Jacob (their husband) their maids. (Hmm…the things women do!)
When Sarah saw she could not get pregnant, she gave her maid Hagar to her husband. Here we can see the devil at work full-time whispering night and day into Sarah’s ears “I hope you know you are the one blocking the promises of God from being fulfilled in your husband’s life. If only you were not barren. Why don’t you give your maid to your husband so you can have children by her. She belongs to you in any case. At least, then you won’t lose out completely if he decides to marry another woman from outside the home”. So Sarah went ahead and set in motion what has become one of the longest bitter feuds and hatred between two nations in the history of mankind. A battle that has been raging for more than four thousand years. A battle which will eventually set off the last war of the world. (Israel, the Jewish nation are descendants of Isaac and the Arab nation are descendants of Ishmael). Hagar got pregnant and made herself comfortable in Abraham’s house. The bible says in Pro 30:21-23 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. My prayer is that may we never give our place to Hagar.
Sarah complained to Abraham about Hagar’s insolence and Abraham said to her “she is still your maid even if she is carrying my child. You can deal with her as you wish. So Sarah dealt with her and she fled. Due to the fact that God cannot break His own word (He had promised Abraham that his seed is blessed) and Hagar’s baby is Abraham’s seed, God sent His angel to speak to her. Hagar went back home, humbled herself and gave birth to Ishmael.
Then the real gist starts in Gen 21:1-12 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age. And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
I would give five years salary to see how Hagar reacted to Sarah’s pregnancy. I can only imagine she experienced feelings ranging from disbelief, shock, anger, and fear at what this meant for her and her son. (Remember Ishmael was already a teenager - 14 years old when Isaac was born). By this time, Sarah and the promise or whatever had long been forgotten and Ishmael was regarded as Abraham’s heir. But the bible tells us in Isa 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Psa 33:11 also says “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” God has purposed that Sarah will have a son for Abraham, so whether Sarah is a blushing 19 yr- old virgin or a 90 yr- old woman does not make any difference to God. SARAH WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON FOR ABRAHAM. PERIOD! (My spirit is leaping for joy as I am writing this!) God’s ways are past finding out. Rom 11:33 says O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Glory Halleluyah!! We serve a mighty God. The I am that I am. The Almighty God, the ancient of days, the one who never sleeps nor slumbers, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, which was, and which is to come, the unchangeable one, the eternal one.
Sarah got pregnant and gave birth to Isaac. At Isaac’s weaning feast, she caught Ishmael mocking. Promptly, she took action. She insisted that Hagar and her son are sent packing from the home. She refused to let Ishmael share in Isaac’s inheritance, the promised land God said He would give to Abraham’s seed.
So what is your own take on this issue? Are you willing to allow Hagar and her son to settle permanently with your Isaac? God has brought Isaac. But because Sarah engineered the birth of Ishmael, so she must also find a way of getting rid of Ishmael permanently. Without mercy. In dealing with the former occupants of the promised land, in most cases, God ordered their total annihilation. Examples are 1Sa 15:3 “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass”. Also Jos 6:21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. So if you have ever given Hagar a place, you must also banish Hagar permanently. We must ask God for wisdom and ask Him to show us all the Hagars in our lives and also ask Him for wisdom on how to banish Hagar. Now some Hagars can prove stubborn and too much in a comfort zone to move. No problem! Just lay a siege around it with prayers and fasting. You will be surprised how quickly it will move. (Under God’s leading, I underwent a three-day dry fasting and praying period early this year for some issues. My life has never been the same since then.)
Please say this with me: Isaac is to come through me and not through Hagar. I will not give my place or position to Hagar. I may be 90 years old, but I will give birth to my Isaac. It may look impossible in the flesh but with God all things are possible. Today I receive a new womb. My body is re-enginnered by God’s word. I receive strength to conceive my Isaac. Ishmael is not the promise. My son Isaac is the promise. I am getting ready. My eggs are ripe for conception. My breasts are heavy and filled with milk for my Isaac. I am coming out!!
Shalom!
Hagar’s name translated in the Hebrew language means a “stranger or one that fears”. In the Arabic language, it means “forsaken or flight”. (This is very vital for this write up!) In our time and day, Hagar is anything and everything in our lives and around us that is mocking our barrenness. Hagar is anything that stands in our way of fruitfulness. Hagar is that dreadful sin/habit sticking to you like a leech. Hagar is anything that presents itself as a substitute for God’s perfect will in your life. Hagar is a stranger in your home, it does not belong to you or near you, it is not meant to be given a place of comfort, it is not meant to have a place or position of any sort in your life.
Ishmael is the fruit or result of Hagar. A wrong turn or decision you took 2, 3, 5 years ago, the effects or results of which haunts or taunts you and makes mockery of the promises of God for your life. Ishmael is also anything that reminds you of your lack or barrenness. It sure reminded Sarah every time she looked at him!
Isaac is God’s promise to you. It is your long awaited miracle, your joy.
In bible times, female slaves are considered to be a personal possession of the wife. A wife can do as she pleases with her maid. An example of this is Rachel and her sister Leah. They also gave Jacob (their husband) their maids. (Hmm…the things women do!)
When Sarah saw she could not get pregnant, she gave her maid Hagar to her husband. Here we can see the devil at work full-time whispering night and day into Sarah’s ears “I hope you know you are the one blocking the promises of God from being fulfilled in your husband’s life. If only you were not barren. Why don’t you give your maid to your husband so you can have children by her. She belongs to you in any case. At least, then you won’t lose out completely if he decides to marry another woman from outside the home”. So Sarah went ahead and set in motion what has become one of the longest bitter feuds and hatred between two nations in the history of mankind. A battle that has been raging for more than four thousand years. A battle which will eventually set off the last war of the world. (Israel, the Jewish nation are descendants of Isaac and the Arab nation are descendants of Ishmael). Hagar got pregnant and made herself comfortable in Abraham’s house. The bible says in Pro 30:21-23 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. My prayer is that may we never give our place to Hagar.
Sarah complained to Abraham about Hagar’s insolence and Abraham said to her “she is still your maid even if she is carrying my child. You can deal with her as you wish. So Sarah dealt with her and she fled. Due to the fact that God cannot break His own word (He had promised Abraham that his seed is blessed) and Hagar’s baby is Abraham’s seed, God sent His angel to speak to her. Hagar went back home, humbled herself and gave birth to Ishmael.
Then the real gist starts in Gen 21:1-12 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age. And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
I would give five years salary to see how Hagar reacted to Sarah’s pregnancy. I can only imagine she experienced feelings ranging from disbelief, shock, anger, and fear at what this meant for her and her son. (Remember Ishmael was already a teenager - 14 years old when Isaac was born). By this time, Sarah and the promise or whatever had long been forgotten and Ishmael was regarded as Abraham’s heir. But the bible tells us in Isa 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Psa 33:11 also says “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” God has purposed that Sarah will have a son for Abraham, so whether Sarah is a blushing 19 yr- old virgin or a 90 yr- old woman does not make any difference to God. SARAH WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON FOR ABRAHAM. PERIOD! (My spirit is leaping for joy as I am writing this!) God’s ways are past finding out. Rom 11:33 says O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Glory Halleluyah!! We serve a mighty God. The I am that I am. The Almighty God, the ancient of days, the one who never sleeps nor slumbers, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, which was, and which is to come, the unchangeable one, the eternal one.
Sarah got pregnant and gave birth to Isaac. At Isaac’s weaning feast, she caught Ishmael mocking. Promptly, she took action. She insisted that Hagar and her son are sent packing from the home. She refused to let Ishmael share in Isaac’s inheritance, the promised land God said He would give to Abraham’s seed.
So what is your own take on this issue? Are you willing to allow Hagar and her son to settle permanently with your Isaac? God has brought Isaac. But because Sarah engineered the birth of Ishmael, so she must also find a way of getting rid of Ishmael permanently. Without mercy. In dealing with the former occupants of the promised land, in most cases, God ordered their total annihilation. Examples are 1Sa 15:3 “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass”. Also Jos 6:21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. So if you have ever given Hagar a place, you must also banish Hagar permanently. We must ask God for wisdom and ask Him to show us all the Hagars in our lives and also ask Him for wisdom on how to banish Hagar. Now some Hagars can prove stubborn and too much in a comfort zone to move. No problem! Just lay a siege around it with prayers and fasting. You will be surprised how quickly it will move. (Under God’s leading, I underwent a three-day dry fasting and praying period early this year for some issues. My life has never been the same since then.)
Please say this with me: Isaac is to come through me and not through Hagar. I will not give my place or position to Hagar. I may be 90 years old, but I will give birth to my Isaac. It may look impossible in the flesh but with God all things are possible. Today I receive a new womb. My body is re-enginnered by God’s word. I receive strength to conceive my Isaac. Ishmael is not the promise. My son Isaac is the promise. I am getting ready. My eggs are ripe for conception. My breasts are heavy and filled with milk for my Isaac. I am coming out!!
Shalom!
No comments:
Post a Comment