It Takes a Leap of Faith to Trust In God. Part I

It Takes a Leap of Faith to Trust In God.

Part:1 (How Far Are You Willing To Leap)

This is Part of the continuing Saga of Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice

Some of the biblical hero's encounter problems when it came to obeying God's will for their lives but through divine intervention they were able to accomplish their task. Even the chosen Israelite's , the seed of Abraham. Abram who by Faith came out from among his people to a land God had yet to show him, but on his journey he became to gear off course on more than one occasion, through his own and Sarai disobedience. Here are some  of those circumstances. Come and Investigate this biblical story about Abram and Sarai a little further for they both took a part in losing Faith in God's will for them. But even through their disobedience a divine presence initiated "The Leap Of Faith" resulting to a covenant Abraham formerly Abram, and his descendants received. This commentary devotional is title It Takes Leap of Faith To Trust In God

Abraham had two sons, one when his name was Abram, and they name him Ishmael and the other when his name was changed to Abraham and his named was Isaac. Ishmael means - (God hears). Ishmael the first born of Abram conceived through Sarai lack of belief. This form of disobedience lead her to become impatient, and she feared that she will be unable to have a child. (Gen:16) Sarai is about 75 years of age at this time, and under any normal circumstances this is beyond the fertility stage for all women. This lead her to propose to Abram that he should marry and lay with her servant Hagar so that through this action she may obtain the child that The Lord had Promised unto him, as if The Lord needed Sarai help to fulfill His word.

Now Hagar, Sarai's handmaid, most likely passed on to Abram by Pharaoh when he dwelt in Egypt, because she was an Egyptian. Genesis-(12:14-16) For in vs.16 it is written that Pharaoh entreated Abram well for Sarai sake. Because of this he received as gifts sheep, oxen, and he asses, menservants, maidservants, and she asses and camels. Abram became very rich when he left Egypt. Now we are about to see a twist here. One of the gifts that Pharaoh gave to Abram that he received through deception becomes a snare to them both.  Satan enters and plants a seed of doubt in Sarai mind, about the Promise child. Fear and Doubt is a door way for demonic control and is a seed Satan plants in the minds of humanity to contradict The Word of God.

Because of Sarai lack of trust the gift of a handmaid becomes to be utilize in the wrong way. Sarai began to think God wanted this for them in order to bring forth a child. Now Hagar has become a servant (slave) of Sarai. Imagine being in Hagar shoes. Her obligation to carry out whatever they asked her to do is being tested. She is in position to be utilize for the purpose of bringing forth a child for Sarai sake, and not her own. Hagar had no children she had never married or been touched in a way a person would when loved by someone dear to them. Now as a bond servant she is instructed to do this for her mistress Sarai. So when Hagar conceived she came to the point of despising Sarai. Pride most likely set in for awhile, she has become a wife to The Prince, and the seed within her could possibly be the heir to Abram so she thought, for Sari is still barren.

Hagar attitude displayed her feelings towards Sarai, so now she despises her.  Most likely she became to start longing for Abram and showed her feelings for Him, but had to deal with the realization that she is to be utilized as an incubator for Sari and nothing else. Abram, and Sari imposed their desire for a child upon Hagar and purpose her as a surrogate mother this became her supported role. Hagar has to become a wife, also so that the child's birth stay within the covenant of marriage. Eventually this became a snare unto Sarai, for she brought her handmaids attitude to Abram attention. He said unto her to handle Hagar as she see fit because she is her servant. Let’s take a pause right here, You mean even after she became married to Abram and conceive his child she is still Sarai slave to do as she please?

Seems to me Abram pass the buck back to Sarai. Sarai treated her hardly Gen (16:4-6). Now there became some anger, strife, hate, and envy on both Sarai and Hagar behalf one on the part of one inability to have a child. Jealousy from the other because of Sarai position as Abraham wife, for Hagar desire to be the main wife and not the concubine, so easily put away as Abram just pass her back under the authority of Sari. Because Hagar conceived this may had her to feel she was more superior having a child by a Prince, whereas Sari could not. This and other situations contributed to the reason for The Spirit of Strife to take over Abram household. This battle continued between the two of them which created chaos, but should had not happen. If Sarai and Abram handle this differently by staying within the will of  God. But disobedience lead Abram first born child to come through their handmaid which was not God's will.

The tension and strife lead Hagar to fled from Sarai harsh treatment realizing she is a slave to her contender with whom she despise. The Angel of the Lord, found Hagar by the fountain in the wilderness. The Lord told Hagar to return to Sarai and submit to her. Remember Hagar is carrying Abram seed within her at this time. The Lord spoke, and said to Hagar that through her son He will multiply his seed exceedingly to the point that it shall not be number (Gen 16:10), and to name her son Ishmael for The Lord had heard her affliction. Even through adversities God blessings flow. Ishmael is not the seed of promise, but a blessing still. He was Abram son, but became a reproach unto Sarai. The child grew, and reach the age of thirteen The Lord visit Abram now age 99 and introduce Himself as God Almighty.

He revealed to Abram the appointed season in which the promise child will be born. The Lord God Almighty change Abram's meaning High Father name to Abraham which means - The Father of Many Nations then Sarai meaning Princess to Sarah, for she shall be a Mother of Nations. The Lord also confirms His promise with Abraham while He initiates a new covenant of circumcision for every male under him. This was a commandment by God in order to amend the breach on Abram behalf when submitting to Sarai ways of bringing forth a child in their own way. God gave Abram a new name and covenant  with the same agenda and purpose. Abram now Abraham is issue a command of circumcision by God. Unto every male among his household from the youngest up to the oldest, starting at eight days of birth circumcision shall be a Covenant With The Lord.

Then The Lord declared unto Abraham the seed of promise arrival date and that he shall name the child Isaac. So about this time next year the promise will be fulfill. Abraham at the age of 99 and Sarah  89 will bring forth a child within a year. So with total obedience Abram took Ishmael, and all male born in his house including those brought by his money, and then he circumcise the flesh of their foreskin that same day. You can see after The Lord renew Abram name to Abraham, He established The New Covenant of Circumcision along with the promise child arrival. To obey God's command was mandatory. Abraham immediately perform the circumcision (Gen 17:23).

Know this, Abraham had no small household (Gen 14:14) It quotes-When Abram heard that his nephew Lot was taken captive by the king of Elam, "he arm all his trained servants at that time born in his household, and the number of them was 318" so he divided them to pursued the King of Elam until Dan and smote them bringing Lot with his family, their goods along with the women also the people back. Abraham has increased in men servants since then, and their  male children. Now he himself perform the circumcision of every man and male child within that same day. Through this covenant, this action reestablish and reinforce the promise that God had made with Abram now name Abraham so that His Word will not return to him void. God promise to Abram continued with the re-establishment of obedience.

Abram disobey God when he went along with Sarai plans. This passing over of authority took place due to the fact Abram gave into her request delaying the Promise Child arrival, just as Adam gave into Eve's offering of the fruit, forfeiting Man's dominion, just as Solomon gave into all his wives and concubines, Removing his Kingship and splitting the kingdom into two. In each of these examples they lost their Head. God made a way of escape through the new covenant of circumcision, and through Abram obedience he attained a new name Abraham and a new covenant with God.

The reproach of their disobedience became Ishmael when he grew up among them which was a thorn in Sarai side for she had to watch the son bonding with Abraham while yet she was still barren and waiting for the child she so desperately wanted. The Lord could have open Sarai womb at the age of 75, that within itself is the action of a miracle performed through the supernatural that only The All Almighty God can do. God turned Sarah weakness around into strength when His true Glory brought forth a child through a desolated womb that became fertile at an old age of 90 whereas nobody, but The Lord can display in this awesome way. This shows there is absolutely nothing too hard for our God.

Now it has happened that Ishmael is about 16, he was 13 when he became circumcise Gen (17:25). That's also when The Lord revealed to Abram that Sarah shall bear unto him a child at a set time the next year later. Gen (17:21). Abram became 99 years of age when The Lord appeared unto him Gen (17:1). Back in the biblical days, at an age of 2 to 3 years, they weaned their children. Ishmael is between the age of 16 or 17 during that time. So Isaac grew, Abraham made a great feast on that same day in honor of the child. Ishmael had been the only child for at least 14 years, he had his father undivided attention during his upbringing. Now his father's attention is focus on the promise child. This has brought forth The Spirit of Envy and Jealousy in Ishmael. Sarah seen him during the feast mocking Isaac her son the true heir.

This misbehavior led to the exile of Ishmael, and his mother Hagar at Sarah's request. This time The Lord told Abraham to hearken unto his wife Sarah so they were exile into the wilderness until they nearly parish. This was a grievous thing for Abraham, but The Lord assured him that Ishmael will be fine. The Lord said – Because he is thy son I will make a nation of him (Gen 21:12-13). Abraham gave Hagar, and his son some bread and water to put on her shoulder early that morning and carried out the exile of them both. Stay tune in for the next part  title: It Takes a Leap of Faith to Trust In God Part:II Hagar’s Deliverance.

How long has Hagar and her son been in the desert? 

months years or days before the water ran out. Some of us 

have been in the wilderness a long time, and the water bottle 

is dry. How long Dear Lord before you answer our cry in 

the wilderness so parch and dry? Will the 

thirsty soul continue to hang in the 

balance withering away and 

died, or will your 

tender mercy 

respond to 

our call 

for you 

to 

Refill, 

Restore and Revive.

Desert of My Days

IN THE SINCERITY OF

THE HOLY SPIRIT

Sis. Seer Trudy