When life feels kinda shaky and looks even shakier, God is ultimately still in control so no worries.

You've heard that a close, intimate, (obedient) relationship with the Lord Jesus is what matters most. It's true -- this makes all the difference in this ever-changing world. 

Lots of wild stuff happens here, huh! Believer, when life feels uncertain, a little bit or a whole lot, Scripture steadies the spiritually reborn heart with unshakable clarity. 

Let the justices of our US Supreme Court decide and do as they will -- this way or that way, justly or not so much being influenced by whoever or whatever. God is BIGGER, BETTER, and always consistently just. Yes, fully trustworthy when they are not, and He works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  

“The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). 

"Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans." Ps. 119:91

The circumstances of life here sure can wobble real fast or slowly, but God does not. Storms rage here and there; His purposes stand strong. It's cuz He is. The believer’s confidence is not rooted in calm seas but in a sovereign Savior.

God has never failed His people. Joseph’s chains became a chariot to save nations (Genesis 50:20). David’s caves prepared a king (1 Samuel 22). Calvary’s darkest hour birthed eternal redemption (Acts 2:23–24). What appears as delay is often divine choreography. Isaiah 46:10 declares that He “declares the end from the beginning,” meaning every closed door and waiting season fits inside a wiser plan than we can presently see.

The only durable way to rest in God’s control is to know God Himself. Proverbs 9:10 teaches that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. As our knowledge of His holiness, love, and faithfulness deepens, so does our trust. A.W. Tozer wisely observed, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” If we think of Him as small, fear will be large; if we see Him as sovereign, hope will be steady.

Scripture holds two truths together without apology: God is sovereign, and we are responsible. Moses urged, “Choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19), while Jesus called, “Come to Me” (Matthew 11:28). Sovereignty is not fatalism; it is fatherly rule. Fatalism says nothing matters; sovereignty says everything matters because God is working through real choices and real prayers (Philippians 2:12–13).

Even death bows before His authority. Psalm 31:15 affirms, “My times are in Your hand.” Hebrews 2:14–15 proclaims that Christ destroyed the one who had the power of death, freeing those enslaved by fear. The believer does not deny uncertainty but declares a greater certainty: the risen Christ reigns.

Mr. Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, “There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s sovereignty.” 

Ms. Corrie ten Boom testified, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

Mr. A.W. Tozer reminded believers that having a high scriptural view of God along with an intimate relationship with Christ.. produces a deep peace. These godly people echo Scripture’s own chorus: God rules wisely, lovingly, and purposefully.

Research from Mr. George Barna consistently shows that only a minority of adults hold a consistent biblical worldview, and those with such a worldview report significantly higher hope and life stability. 

The implication is both pastoral and practical: when biblical belief in God’s sovereignty declines, then anxiety rises; when confidence in God's Word, His rule, His unchanging Promises and Holy Character strengthens, then resilience grows!

The old hymn captures this theology in song:

Great Is Thy Faithfulness — yep! 

“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with Thee.”

"And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 nlt 

Every sound set of sound lyrics can be a sermon: His faithfulness does not flicker with our feelings or fluctuate with our fears.

So when life feels shaky, reborn believer, return to the bedrock truths: God reigns (Psalm 93:1). 

Let the justices with our US Supreme Court decide as they will -- this way or that way, justly or not so much being influenced by whoever or whatever. God is BIGGER, BETTER and always consistently just. Yes, fully trustworthy when they are not, and He works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (See Romans 8:28 with context in different translations). 

God invites us to trust, obey, and hope (Proverbs 3:5–6; Titus 2:13). The call is not to passive resignation but to active, confident faith. Choose Christ daily, rest in His providence, and walk forward with courage—because the hands that guide history are the same hands that were pierced for our salvation.

God, not merely to inform our minds, but to enlarge our worship and deepen our daily thanksgiving 24/7/365. The more clearly we see who God truly is, the more naturally gratitude will rise within us. We start, then, with His glorious sovereignty.

To say that God is sovereign is to confess that He reigns with absolute authority over all creation. He does not answer to any higher court, nor is His will constrained by any created power. Scripture declares, “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). He is the King eternal, immortal, invisible (1 Timothy 1:17), whose dominion is everlasting (Daniel 4:34–35). Nothing exists outside His rule, and nothing unfolds beyond His knowledge or permission.

Yet, in the mystery of His wisdom, God’s sovereignty and human responsibility operate together in the drama of redemption. We affirm both truths because Scripture affirms both. God foreknows, chooses, and predestines His people (Romans 8:29–30; Ephesians 1:4–5; 1 Peter 1:2). Believers are called the “chosen” and the “elect” (Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 24:31). These truths humble us, for salvation is rooted in God’s eternal purpose rather than human merit.

At the same time, the Word of God summons every person to respond in faith. “Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9–10). We are genuinely called to repent and believe, and we are accountable for that response.

How these two realities harmonize in the mind of God stretches beyond the grasp of finite understanding. Paul himself, after reflecting on God’s sovereign purposes, bursts into doxology rather than explanation: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:33–36). Where our comprehension ends, our reverence must begin. We bow before a God whose ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9), acknowledging that mystery does not mean contradiction, but rather majesty.

Therefore, our calling is clear: we are to proclaim the gospel faithfully to all people (Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8), leaving the secret counsels of election, foreknowledge, and predestination safely in God’s hands. Charles Spurgeon wisely said, “I never reconcile friends,” meaning he saw no need to force a reconciliation between divine sovereignty and human responsibility, since both are taught plainly in Scripture and perfectly harmonized in the mind of God.

God’s sovereignty flows naturally from His divine attributes. Because He is omniscient, nothing surprises Him (Psalm 147:5). Because He is omnipotent, nothing thwarts Him (Jeremiah 32:17). Because He is omnipresent and eternal, He stands outside the boundaries of time, declaring, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14; Psalm 90:2). As Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1–3), He possesses the unquestioned right to rule all that He has made. Thus, nothing occurs in the universe without at least passing through His permissive will.

Still, Scripture also reveals that God grants real choices to humanity. He sets before people life and death, blessing and curse, and calls them to choose life (Deuteronomy 30:15–19). He holds individuals responsible for their sins (Exodus 20:5) and expresses displeasure at their rebellion (Numbers 25:3). The existence of sin does not mean God lacks control; rather, it demonstrates that He sometimes permits what He does not approve, for purposes known fully only to Him. His sovereignty includes the freedom to allow, not merely the power to compel.

This balanced truth guards us from two errors: imagining that God directly causes every event as though humans were mere puppets, or imagining that God is a helpless observer reacting to human decisions. The Bible presents neither extreme. Instead, it reveals a sovereign Lord who actively governs and, at times, sovereignly permits, always accomplishing His ultimate purposes. “From Him and through Him and to Him are all things” (Romans 11:36).

Consider the healing of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11–19. All ten cried out for mercy, and all ten received cleansing from Christ’s sovereign compassion. Yet only one returned, loudly praising God and falling at Jesus’ feet in gratitude. The healed Samaritan illustrates the proper response to sovereign grace: humble, joyful and thankful. He recognized that his healing was not self-produced but divinely granted. Likewise, every blessing in our lives should lead us back to the feet of Christ in grateful worship.

Because God reigns over every circumstance, we can trust Him even when life feels uncertain. “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Jeremiah confessed, “I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself; nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). And again, “Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord; how then can man understand his way?” (Proverbs 20:24). These verses do not diminish human effort; they place our efforts within the wise governance of God.

But what of suffering and hardship? Is God still sovereign then? Scripture answers with a resounding yes. Though many events remain mysterious and painful, God is able to weave even adversity into His good purposes for His people: “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). The psalmist affirms, “All things serve Your plan” (Psalm 119:91). This assurance steadies the heart: nothing in the believer’s life is random; every thread is woven by a sovereign and loving hand.

God’s sovereignty, therefore, is not a cold doctrine but a warm pillow for the soul. It assures us that history is not spiraling aimlessly, that our lives are not governed by blind chance, and that our salvation is not dependent on human strength. Instead, we rest in the sovereign grace of God. “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace” (Ephesians 1:5–6).

Grace and sovereignty meet most beautifully at the cross. We were sinners, unable to save ourselves, yet God, in sovereign mercy, sent His Son to redeem us (Romans 3:24; 5:20). Paul testified, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Every believer can echo that confession. Our salvation is not the result of chance or personal worthiness, but the outworking of God’s eternal love and gracious purpose.

Even the common blessings of life testify to His sovereign grace. “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). Every breath we draw is sustained by His mercy, whether acknowledged or ignored. How much more, then, should those redeemed by Christ overflow with thanksgiving all year long!

The sovereignty of God is therefore not merely a theological concept to debate but a truth to adore. It humbles our pride, quiets our fears, and fuels our gratitude. Knowing that our lives are held within the wise and loving rule of God frees us from the illusion of self-sufficiency and invites us into restful trust. 

Mr. A.W. Tozer wrote, “God’s sovereignty is the attribute by which He rules His entire creation, and to be sovereign God must be all-knowing, all-powerful, and absolutely free.”

So as we prepare our hearts for this brand new day, let us rejoice that our days are not governed by accident but by the sovereign hand of our faithful God. He rules in creation, providence, and redemption. He saves by grace, guides with wisdom, and accomplishes all His holy purposes. Our fitting response is the same as the healed leper: to return, fall at His feet, and loudly praise Him for His sovereign mercy.

Q: Do you wonder if you need to come to Christ and, through Him, get right with your Heavenly Father? Come to Him now. 

How does the truth that God reigns over every detail of your life shape your trust, your obedience, and your gratitude before Him today?

Let the justices of our US Supreme Court decide as they will -- this way or that way, justly or not so much being influenced by whoever or whatever. God is BIGGER, BETTER, and always consistently just. Yes, fully trustworthy when they are not, and He works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  

Be clear, be understood, be unashamed. Intentionally have an understanding early with those you love, so you'll fail to have a misunderstanding.

Ever heard about that older couple who were trying to communicate with each other at the time of their half-century anniversary? 

Yes, together they were celebrating 50 years of married life together. How wonderful is that? But the wife had been getting a little hard of hearing, and so the husband clearly announced in front of family and friends, to his wife, the love of my life -- my dear beloved, after 50 years, I have found you tried and true. 

He had to repeat this. 

Again, cuz she couldn't hear very well. She said, What? 

He said, My dear wife, after 50 years, I have found you tried and true. 

...and then she shot back at him, Well, after 50 years, I'm tired of you too. 

There was a little bit of a communication breakdown there. 

You know, there are a lot of American companies that have had this same problem. They tried to offer their products overseas, but sometimes there's a language barrier that has to be overcome. Many fail to get their message across the bridge so to speak.

It's called something getting lost in translation, and this can be a bit humorous in certain situations. 

As an example, the Parker Pen Company was expanding its ballpoint line to Mexico came up with another slogan: It won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you. But the problem was they didn't fully understand how it would come out in Spanish. And instead it was translated to say, on billboards, this pen will not leak in your pocket and impregnate you. Man, that a little different than what they had intended. 

In Italy, a campaign for Schweppes tonic water was translated into Schweppes toilet water. 

Needless to say, not a lot of people wanted to drink toilet water. 

Jolly Green Giant, you remember them, with their ho ho ho, and their slogan, the Jolly Green Giant. Well they tried to go market in the Arabic market, and instead it came out to the intimidating green ogre. 

Have you tried some of those beans from the intimidating green ogre? 

In Taiwan, the translation of the Pepsi slogan, come alive with the Pepsi generation, instead came out to say, Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead. Now, depending on what ancestors those were, maybe that's a promising thing, maybe not so. 

Clairol tried to market its mystic curling iron in Germany, and instead of it saying mystic, it said manure stick. Not a lot of German ladies were all that excited about using a manure stick. 

In China, Kentucky Fried Chicken took their slogan, finger-licking good, and instead it came out in Chinese as, eat your fingers off. It gives a whole new meaning to chicken fingers, doesn't it? 

And finally, Scandinavian vacuum cleaner manufacturer Electrolux used the following in their American ad campaign. So they came over to America and used this phrase, nothing sucks like an Electrolux. There's some surfer lingo there. Yeah, something is lost in translation. 

Well, guess what? Jesus Christ, as perfect as He is also seemed to have this sort of communication issue with his own disciples. It was with those lacking ears to hear They did not understand why he had come to this earth in the first place.. though He kept telling them. 

Repeating in different ways can be helpful with time. Be clear in your thinking -- yes, no matter where you're located on earth. 

Me thinks when it's foggy in the pulpit or on the streets, it sure seems to be cloudy all around there. 

Dr. Howard Hendricks used to attend our local church in Frisco, Texas and he once said: "A mist in the pulpit is a fog in the pew!"

"Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” 28 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” 30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him." Mark 8:27-30 nkjv.

Clear gospel witness requires a clear gospel mind and a compassionate gospel voice. Scripture urges us to speak so people truly understand: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:6). Clarity is not compromise; it is love applied to truth. When hearts are eternal and time is short, vague words are unkind words.

The apostles modeled this holy clarity. Paul resolved, “We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (2 Cor. 4:5), and again, “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). The gospel was never buried beneath cultural jargon. It was spoken plainly: Christ died for sinners, rose again, and calls all to repent and believe (1 Cor. 15:3–4; Acts 17:30–31). As Billy Graham often said, “The gospel is the good news that God loves us and sent His Son to die for our sins.”

Clarity in witness is both biblical and strategic. Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29). That question demands a clear answer, not a cloudy impression. Peter’s confession—“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16)—shows that saving faith rests on a precise understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done. Yet moments later Peter resisted the cross (Mark 8:32–33), proving that even sincere believers can misunderstand the mission of Christ if the message is not fully grasped. The crown cannot be preached without the cross.

Faithful witnesses will therefore study both Scripture and people. “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer” (Prov. 15:28). We translate without diluting. 

Paul spoke their particular language and entered their culture short of sinning. He became “all things to all people” (1 Cor. 9:22), not by changing the gospel, but by removing needless barriers to understanding. John Stott wrote, “We must be faithful to the gospel and sensitive to the culture.” The message is sacred; the method must be thoughtful.

Research confirms the urgency of clarity. Studies from the Barna Group repeatedly show that many non-Christians believe Christianity is mainly about moral behavior rather than Christ’s atoning death and resurrection. When the core message is misunderstood, evangelism must recover simplicity: sin, cross, resurrection, repentance, faith. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Christian history echoes the same conviction. Charles Spurgeon declared, “If people will not come to hear us, we must go and speak so they can understand.” 

Hudson Taylor insisted that missionaries must “put the cookies on the lowest shelf,” meaning the gospel should be reachable to the simplest listener. 

Mr. Clive S. Lewis once observed, “The message of Christianity is not complicated; it is profound but plain.” These voices remind us that obscurity is never a spiritual virtue.

Even our songs teach this. The old hymn sings, “I love to tell the story,” because the story itself—clear, repeated, and Christ-centered—awakens faith (Rom. 10:17). The power lies not in clever phrasing but in a faithful proclamation of Christ crucified and risen.

Practically, clear witnessing grows through three disciplines as we walk closely following Jesus.

First, know the Bible and Christ's gospel deeply. If the message is fuzzy in our heart or mind, it will be foggy on our lips.. and in their ears (2 Tim. 2:15).

Second, know your audience, yes, the listener compassionately. Jesus saw the crowds and felt somethign -- He had compassion for each of them (Matt. 9:36). His type of compassion listens and hears before speaking.

Third, know your mother tongue well, and how to use their language wisely. Avoid insider jargon, regional slang like surfer-speak, and vague religious phrases. Speak as Jesus did—using images and words drawn from culture and their everyday life so truth lands gently but firmly (Mark 4:33).

Fourth, above all, we must be given to prayer and really care before we share. Do you love God most and love people too? Who is really leading you? Do you pray for those you want to see in heaven one day? 

I hope they feel that they are loved by you before you start witnessing to them in a non-pushy or preachy sort of way. The clarity must be joined with consecration and God's love. 

Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). A clear message without a consistent life creates confusion; a clear message with a faithful life creates credibility (Phil. 1:27). As Eugene Peterson summarized, discipleship is “a long obedience in the same direction,” a steady witness that outlasts emotional hype and fleeting charisma.

When Christ taught, a child could understand Him. He didn't neglect the Scriptures when he spoke their language. 

Therefore, let our witness be like that and remain simple, stay scriptural, and always be sincere. Careful, but use some humor too. Don't make yourself the hero of every story. 

In their language. Speak and brag about Christ plainly and give them an opportunity to get right withh God on the spot. Is there anything at all that would prevent you from coming to Christ right now..as you are? He sees and fully understands you already. 

What does it mean that faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17)?

How clear are you, and where does saving faith really come from in relation to how you speak?

Again, how is hearing by the Word of God important (Romans 10:17)?

Why does Romans 10:17?

What does it mean that while we were still sinners Christ died for us?

What does the Bible say about getting the doubt out?

How can I overcome doubt in my relationship with God?

What are some Bible verses about faith?

Why do so many people struggle with a lack of faith?

What is the purpose of Jesus interceding for us in heaven?

How can I clearly evangelize my friends and family if they are open to this?

Explain the cross and Christ's resurrection carefully using clean language. Be bold yet gentle. Call for repentance lovingly. Trust the Spirit to illuminate their hearts (John 16:8). Yes, rely upon Him and His power. He will guide you step by step. When the gospel is spoken with clarity, when it is clothed in compassion, and it is confirmed by consistent victorious living, it will rarely get lost in the translation.  By God’s strong grace, it will come through, and you will see a response toward Him with saving faith.

Normal People Know There's Nothing Wrong With Women Wearing Pants (And There's Way To Do That..DUH), But When Women Wear The Pants In A Marriage Or Family So To Speak.. Yikes! Bad Results Arrive (See Genesis 16:1–16)

Indecency, immodest, and outta-whack -- all need to be so last season for us! 

I remember several years ago, along with some Dana Point friends, driving up the coast to Long Beach, California, to attend a Christian conference by a really straight laced looking guy on proper submission to direct and delegated authority (It seemed decent enough, I had been such a rebel through the early '70s). He made some great points for sure from Bible passages I love. Us friends had some good fellowship along the way and then homeward. 

And way back in the day after that event, The same man William addressed a gathering of 2,600 pastors in Dallas and made a sobering observation. 

All our relationships matter to God. Some women we've met over the years really crave the idea of constantly leading their husbands spiritually. I think that feeling came from the fall. Women are, men are -- we are all to submit to authority, but that is not always so easy is it? We men, are to really love our wives all the way home. Yes, love like Christ loves His church. 

He said: The most frequent complaint voiced by pastors’ wives was that their husbands were not taking spiritual leadership in the home. That indictment still echoes today. Why do men who can lead churches often fail to lead their own families wisely before God? Why do other so-called Christians fail in this area as well? (Then, years later, I heard Bill had somehow sadly drifted off base. I hope he turned back/repented.

Stories about men failing to spiritually lead their families confirm that this weakness is not so rare. One often-heard example is kind of humorous, almost, yet painfully revealing: A pastor starting to pray about God’s guidance on whether or not to move to another local church while his wife upstairs is already packing his suitcases. Don't do that, lady, just pray with him. 

Bob Deffinbaugh once told about a well-known pastor-dude had been invited to preach temporarily at a sound and prominent church. One needs to pray about that kind of thing. Concerned that accepting might appear as self-promotion, he actually declined. Maybe his wife had prayed more? Then his wife, however, accepted on his behalf. He went and fulfilled the engagement and eventually accepted the pastorate. That story ended well, but Genesis 16 reminds us that many such situations do not.

Abram, the man of faith, proves in this chapter that even saints have clay feet at home. His quiet passivity under pressure brings lasting consequences. Yet before we fault Abram for listening to his wife, we must admit that many husbands fail in the opposite direction by refusing to listen when they should. This passage is not a weapon for husbands to wield against wives. It is a mirror for all of us, calling us to humility, discernment, and deeper trust in God’s promises.

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Sarai’s Proposal (Genesis 16:1–6)

Genesis introduces Sarai as barren, a grief in any culture but especially in the ancient world where an heir secured the future. God had promised Abram, “I will make you a great nation” (Genesis 12:2). Sarai assumed the responsibility for producing that promised son must somehow rest on her. Since she could not conceive, she reasoned that another woman must bear the child for Abram.

She speaks with resignation and presumption mingled together:
“Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children through her” (Genesis 16:2).

Ancient customs did allow a barren wife to give her servant to her husband and claim the child as her own. Cultural acceptance, however, does not equal divine approval. Scripture nowhere assigned Sarai the task of fulfilling God’s promise by human ingenuity. God had commanded Abram to leave Ur (Genesis 12:1) and then promised to make him a great nation and bless the world through him (Genesis 12:2–3). The fulfillment rested with God, not with human strategy.

Sarai’s reasoning shows the subtle sin of presumption. Instead of trusting the Lord to do what He promised, she attempted to accomplish the supernatural by natural means. Faith waits for God’s provision. Presumption tries to force God’s hand or act in His place. As Augustine wisely said, “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” Yet even our work must remain within the boundaries of God’s will and promise.

Despite some commentators suggesting Sarai acted out of faith or sacrificial devotion, the text itself reveals no such confidence. Her proposal appears driven by social shame, personal disappointment, and perhaps the desire to secure Abram’s affection through providing an heir at any cost.

God’s original design for marriage already stood as the ideal: one man and one woman united as one flesh (Genesis 2:18–25). The Bible’s early examples of polygamy, beginning with Lamech (Genesis 4:19), are marked by tension and rivalry. Later narratives confirm the same pattern (Genesis 29:30ff.). Sarai’s plan followed cultural norms but departed from God’s ideal.

Faith does not attempt to accomplish God’s promises through the energy of the flesh. As Paul later explains, Ishmael represents what is born of human effort, while Isaac represents what is born of God’s promise (Galatians 4:21–31).

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Abram’s Bad Passivity

Though Sarai initiated the plan, Abram bears equal responsibility. This failure did not begin in Genesis 16 but traces back to his earlier unbelief when he went down to Egypt during famine (Genesis 12:10–13:4). There he acquired servants, likely including Hagar, from Pharaoh (Genesis 12:16). The seeds of later trouble were sown in that earlier compromise. Indeed, the proverb holds true: the consequences of unbelief eventually return home.

“Abram listened to his wife” (Genesis 16:2). In Hebrew thought, listening often implies obedience. Abram’s failure was not that he heard Sarai but that he complied without discernment or prayer. He did not remind her of God’s promise. He did not seek the Lord. He yielded quietly. What appeared to be peacekeeping was actually abdication of spiritual responsibility.

Passivity is not spirituality. True leadership sometimes requires gentle resistance, wise counsel, and patient reassurance rooted in God’s Word. Perhaps Sarai longed for reassurance of Abram’s love. Perhaps she needed to be reminded of God’s promise and power. Abram obeyed her request but may never have truly heard her heart.

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Hagar Got A Pride Issue

Hagar herself was not innocent. Though she had little agency as a servant, her attitude shifted once she conceived. “Her mistress was despised in her sight” (Genesis 16:4). She forgot that children are “a heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Pride grew where humility should have remained.

Thus sin multiplied. Sarai presumed, Abram submitted passively, and Hagar grew proud. Sin rarely travels alone; it forms a chain that binds everyone involved.

Soon the plan unraveled. Instead of uniting the family, Ishmael created division. Abram loved the child (Genesis 17:18,20; 21:11), but Sarai resented him (Genesis 21:10). What was meant to secure affection only produced conflict.

Sarai the blamed Abram, but it was her bad idea and he basically followed her lead with that (We've had a big problem on earth with this ever since):

“May the wrong done me be upon you” (Genesis 16:5).
Yet she herself had proposed the arrangement. Remorse replaced repentance. Abram again withdrew instead of leading, saying, “Your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight” (Genesis 16:6). Sarai dealt harshly with Hagar, who fled toward Egypt.

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Who Could Address The Mess? Divine Intervention Was Needed (See Genesis 16:7–16)

"Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”

9 The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” 10 Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” 11 And the Angel of the Lord said to her:

“Behold, you are with child,
And you shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the Lord has heard your affliction.
12 He shall be a wild man;
His hand shall be against every man,
And every man’s hand against him.
And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

13 Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram." Genesis 16:7-16 nkjv

* There Was A Big Test of the Covenant (v. 16) Yes, it was God who had made the covenant, and God would fulfill it. Would Abe trust Him to? All Abraham and Sarah had to do was simply wait by faith (Heb. 6:12). Alas, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak! Wiersbe speaks of the previous chapter, where "Abraham listened to God and exercised faith, but here he listened to his wife and revealed his unbelief. He ceased to walk in the Spirit and began to walk in the flesh. We have seen that “faith is living without scheming,” but at this point both of them tried to help God accomplish His plan. This explains why God had to wait until they were old before He gave them the child. They had to be dead in themselves before He could work (Heb. 11:11–12).

In v. 2 Sarah blames God for her barren condition and hints that He is not good to them (see 3:1–6). She turns to the world for help—to Hagar, the Egyptian—but the whole scheme fails. The works of the flesh now appear (Gal. 5:16–26). God did not recognize the marriage. He called Hagar “Sarah’s maid” (v. 8). This is the first mention of the Angel of the Lord in the OT, and is none other than Christ. God cared for Hagar, instructed her to submit to Sarah, and promised that her son, Ishmael, would be a great man, but a wild man. “Ishmael” means “God will hear” (see v. 11).

When Isaac, Sarah’s son, entered the family, there was no room for Ishmael and he was cast out (21:9ff). Eventually, Ishmael fathered twelve sons (25:13–15), and their descendants have been enemies of the Jews for centuries. Galatians 4:21–31 teaches that Sarah pictures the New Covenant and Hagar the Old Covenant. Hagar was a slave, and the Old Covenant enslaved people (Acts 15:10); Sarah was a free woman and Christ makes us free (Gal. 5:1ff). Ishmael was born of the flesh and could not be controlled. Likewise, the Law appeals to the flesh but cannot change it or control it. Isaac was born of the Spirit, a child of promise (Gal 4:23) who enjoyed liberty.

Do not miss the practical lessons here: whenever we run ahead of God, there is trouble. The flesh loves to help God, but true faith is shown in patience (Isa. 28:16). We cannot mix faith and flesh, law and grace, the Word and this corrupt World-system, the promise of God and self-effort.

Strikingly, God is absent from the first six verses. His name is mentioned only as the One Sarai claims prevented her from bearing children, yet no one seeks His will. When people insist on their own way, God sometimes allows them to feel the weight of their choices.

The Lord finally intervenes, not by speaking to Abram or Sarai, but to Hagar in the wilderness. The angel asks, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” (Genesis 16:8). The question calls her to reflection. Running away does not erase responsibility. Even Jonah, in the belly of the fish, remained God’s prophet.

God commands her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority” (Genesis 16:9). Hard words indeed, yet echoed later in Scripture. Peter writes, “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect… even to those who are unreasonable” (1 Peter 2:18–20). God’s will sometimes calls us to endure hardship with patience, trusting His justice and care.

With the command comes a promise: Ishmael will become a great multitude (Genesis 16:10). His name means “God hears,” a reminder that the Lord sees and hears the afflicted. Hagar responds with worship, declaring, “You are a God who sees” (Genesis 16:13). What comfort this must have given her through the difficult years ahead.

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When to Work and When to Wait

Genesis 16 confronts a recurring dilemma for believers: when should we act, and when should we wait? Saul erred by acting when he was commanded to wait (1 Samuel 13; 10:8). In contrast, the church in Acts 12 needed to act when Peter stood knocking at the door instead of merely continuing in prayer (Acts 12:1–16). Wisdom lies in discerning God’s timing.

What Are The Several Good Principles That Emerge?:

1. We should NOT act wrongly when God clearly gives out both responsibility and authority. God never commanded Abram or Sarai to go think up a way to produce the child of promise. God promised to provide one, simple as that (Genesis 12:1–3; 17:6,16,19).

2. Our actions must spring from sound faith, not from fear of lack. “Whatever is not from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). Sarai’s motive appears to have been driven by anxiety rather than trust in God.

3. Obstacles sometimes strengthen faith, yet at other times they might signal God’s redirection for believers (Exodus 14; Acts 16:6–7). Discernment requires godly wisdom not worldly wisdom, which God gives out generously to the humble (James 1:5–6).

4. We must question decisions that appeal strongly to any fleshly desires. What could have at first looked noble outwardly may have gratified hidden appetites.

5. Pressure from others ..like from a well-meaning but fearful or anxious woman (in this case, wife), is rarely a sound motive for good actions. Abram acted largely to simply appease Sarai, not to honor God. Hey guys, lead wisely! 

6. Methods must align with God’s Holy Word, sterling character, and eternal purposes. Peer pressure, wife pressure, and cultural acceptance cannot sanctify methods that fall short of divine ideals.

Abram’s attempt to “help” God out only created centuries of conflict between the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael. God does not need our assistance; He desires our trust and obedience. As Hudson Taylor once said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”

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The Cost and Consequences of Acting Without God

Another sobering observation appears: God spoke to Hagar, but not to Abram or Sarai. Scripture records no word from God to Abram for thirteen years (Genesis 17:1). When we rely on human reasoning instead of divine guidance, God may allow silence to teach us dependence.

Abram even learned Ishmael’s name from what God told Hagar (Genesis 16:11,15). When we choose to be led primarily by human voices rather than by God, He may permit us to experience the loneliness of that choice.

Abram’s household struggled with the same tensions families face today. Wives may pressure out of fear; husbands may surrender leadership to keep peace. Yet neither presumption nor passivity honors God. True faith walks the narrow path between forcing outcomes and refusing responsibility.

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What's More Important Than Seeing All In Your Family 1st-Hand Experiencing Christ's Salvation? Nothing. 

We each need to grasp the Bible's deeper spiritual truth from the Holy Spirit. Many people attempt to assist God in saving themselves via good works.. bad idea.. as Abram attempted to assist God in fulfilling God's good promise with Hagar. But Scripture is clear:

“There is none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10).
“All our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isaiah 64:6).

We work from salvation, not for real salvation. The good works are to follow after we repent, believe in Christ and are forgiven.. regenerated inside. Just as Abram could not produce the promised son by human effort, we cannot produce righteousness by our own works. Salvation is entirely God’s gift through Jesus Christ.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Faith rests in what God has done, not in what we can accomplish. We bring our weakness, our inability, and our need. He supplies forgiveness, righteousness, and new life.

So Genesis 16 gently yet firmly teaches us: do not force what God has promised to provide, do not abdicate what God has called you to lead, and do not trust the flesh where only faith in God will suffice.

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