Genesis 16:9 states that the angel of the Lord (pre-incarnate Christ) told Hagar, who was running away from her mistress, Sarai, to return and submit to the authority of Sarai (under her hands). Interestingly, just before the angel of the Lord commanded Hagar to return and submit, he had asked Hagar, where she was going? Hagar had not responded to this question and irrespective of where she was set out to go, the angel of the Lord, answered this question for her.
Herein is a lesson, we all ought to learn, which is about returning and submitting to authority – authority that God has ordained over us, on one hand, but more importantly, to the ultimate authority over all – the authority of God (2 Chronicles 20:6; Psalm 47:8).
Points to ponder:
Jesus is the ultimate authority over all (1 Corinthians 15:27) for God has put everything under Jesus’ feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church (Ephesians 1:22). While it is important and necessary for us to submit to governing authorities that God has allowed over us (Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13), it is even more important for us to return and submit to the authority of God, of Jesus Christ, the ruler over all. Jesus laid the best example for us to follow, for he submitted to the authority of God by declaring that “Into (or you can say under) God’s hands, he commended his Spirit” (Luke 23:46). Let us return and submit to the authority – the Ultimate Authority – Jesus Christ.
If God was to ask us today, where are you going? Let our answer and action be, “Returning to Submit to God’s authority.” Let us be able to truly say, “Lord God, Into your hands, I commend my all – heart, soul, strength, and mind”
Genesis 16:9 (KJV)
9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
