English Devotion - Comforted by God

Comforted by God 

The Wilderness Series 

 

Genesis 16-8-21

God promised, "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2).

 

God promised in Gen 15:4 , that his heir will come from his own body. 

 

 It had been more than ten years since the promise was made regarding Abram’s descendants. By most accounts, ten years seems like a long time to wait for the promise of God.

 

(Genesis 16:1–16; 17:18–26; 21:1–21), Abraham’s wife Sarah (Sarai at the time) was restrained from having children. She said to Abraham (Abram at the time) to sleep with her maidservant Hagar to conceive an heir.

 

After becoming pregnant with child, Sarah’s harsh treatment upon Hagar forces her to flee the desert. (Gen 16:6)

The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert

“Then the angel of the LORD told her, ‘Go back to your mistress and submit to her. . .. I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.’ (Gen 16:7-9)

Hagar did return with a submitted heart. She told the whole story to Abram and Sarai, and Abram named the child Ishmael, just as instructed in the meeting with the Angel of the LORD 

when we exchange regular relationships into those that are inappropriate, it only brings pain to everyone involved.

After she had given birth, Hagar treats her with contempt. Is this not common sometimes for us as well with our loved ones or superiors, who asks us to do something.

We do what they want exactly as they required. But it was not what they wanted. Suddenly, they get angry with us, scold us, although we were doing it correctly.

Ishmael was born and brought up in Abraham’s household.

Suddenly, Hagar’s status was elevated from a slave to the mother of Abraham’s firstborn. Sarah was demoted from mistress to barren woman (Gen 16:4-5).

How do we look upon those less fortunate than us or in more difficulty than us? How do we treat them or how do we feel for them?

Ishmael and Hagar were banished to the desert, though God promised that Ishmael would raise up a great nation of his own. (Gen 17:20)

Sometimes, we might receive a prophecy from God, and then proceed on it without checking. We should seek advice and pray.  If we operate on our own thinking, we may get into trouble.

Sarah might have avoided the trouble if she had waited upon the Lord. 

God does not leave us alone. God zeroed in on Hagar. He sent an angel of the Lord to comfort her. He said her son would rise to be a big nation of descendants too many to count.

“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You Are the God Who Sees Me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’ That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi;” (Genesis 16:13). - Beer-lahai-Roi – AMP Bible the Well of the Living One who sees me.

Hagar listened to God’s word, she received comfort and strength to continue in service in the household. God was true to His promise he made to Hagar that He would bless Ishmael. Abraham, Ishmael, and the household were consecrated to the Lord. (Gen 17-25)

 

Prayer:

My God, you are the one that sees me. You are El Roi. You see everything and you hand is in every situation. Today, in my wilderness walk, please walk with me, and come to me with your aid. Come to me and lead me into the green pastures, give me your Comfort, Your Strength, Your peace. I trust in you completely. In Jesus name. Amen!