Genesis 16:1-3 gives us the account of the conversation that transpired between Abram and his wife Sarai. Sarai was barren and she tells Abram to take Hagar, her Eqyptian handmaid (servant/slave) as his wife, and have children through her.
What is pitiful is that while Sarai correctly recognized the source of her barrenness as God, for children are a heritage of the Lord (Psalm 127:3) and we know Sarai knew this for she said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing:”, she failed to recognize the Sovereignty of God, who had promised to create in her, the seed ex nihilo (out of nothing; out of her barrenness).
Points to ponder:
Many a times we fail to see the Sovereignty of God by focusing on the barrenness in us. While God may allow times of barrenness in our life, he is always Sovereign – a Sovereign God for whom it is easy to create ex nihilo; streams in the desert (Isaiah 35:6). Instead of saying, “Behold now, the Lord has restrained us”, let us just say “Behold now, the Lord” for he is Sovereign and can turn our barrenness into a lasting legacy.
Genesis 16:1-3 (KJV)
1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 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.
3 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.
