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Topic: Sarai and Abram?
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Eden
unregistered
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posted
Hi, Chaffin. You said:
This morning in class it was brought up that the reason for trouble between Sarai and Hagar was because Sarai and Abram didn't wait for God to bare a child to Sarai.
Eden here:
This is what God had said up to that point to Abram and Sarai:
Genesis 15
1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am your shield, and your exceeding great reward.
2 And Abram said, LORD God, what will you give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
3 And Abram also said, Look, to me You have given no seed: and look, one born in my house is my heir.
4 Then, look, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, This one shall not be your heir; but he who shall come forth out of your own bowels shall be your heir.
5 And he brought him forth outside and said, Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if you are able to number them: and He said also to him, So shall your seed be.
6 And he {Abram} believed in the LORD; and He {the LORD} counted it to him {Abram} for righteousness.
When ten years had passed since the promise, Abram’s beloved wife Sarai was still barren. Yet surely Abram must have told Sarai that the LORD had said that “he who shall be your heir shall come out of your own bowels.”
They had said “goodnight” many a night to each other, in love.
Yet, ten years down the line, as Sarai stayed barren, Sarah’s faith failed first, and then Abram caved in like Adam:
Genesis 16
1 Now Abram's wife Sarai bore him no children: but she did have a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing: so I pray you, go in unto my maid; so that it may be that I obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
3 And Abram's wife Sarai took her handmaid Hagar the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelled ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived.
Sarai’s faith failed in the sense that if she could have said to herself: “I may be barren, but if the LORD said that my husband Abram would have an heir from his own loins, since I am his only legitimate wife, even if I am barren today, cannot be so one day because the LORD has said that my husband Abram would have an heir from his own loins, AND I AM HIS WIFE.
So, Chaffin, you then said:
Well I then brought up that I didn't think they knew they have done anything wrong because that was a common practice back in those days. Well when I said that they looked at me like I was an idiot.
Eden here:
It was not that Abram and Sarai had done anything wrong by using a handmaiden to add more children to the family because that was indeed done in those days.
But what the study group people said: “Abram didn't wait for God to bare a child to Sarai”, that is indeed true, but only part of the truth. Sarai also did not wait for God to bare an heir unto Abram of his own loins. She should have said to herself, "I am the legitimate and beloved wife, this heir must come to me since God is a Gentleman."
Sarai was indeed the FIRST {in this case} to lose faith, and Abram then caved in like Adam caved into Eve. But let me add, that there are many instances in our own lives in which the husband's faith caves in before their wives's faith, so I'm only describing Sarai's faith here.
Be blessed.
Eden
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TEXASGRANDMA
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Member # 847
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posted
becauseHElives
thank you. ![[hug]](graemlins/hug.gif)
I know the Lord has convicted me many times for praying about something and then making plans in case God doesn't answer. So little faith! ![[Embarrassed]](redface.gif)
betty
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
http://www.indieheaven.com/artists/mm (son-in-law)http://www.myspace.com/mireles
Posts: 4985 | From: Washington State | Registered: Jan 2003
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becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87
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posted
quote:
TEXASGRANDMA,
I think they thought they were doing the right thing. They were wrong, but as human beings we often want to "help" God out, especially when it seems He is taking too long.
very well put ![[thumbsup2]](graemlins/thumbsup2.gif)
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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Good NewsforAll
Advanced Member
Member # 6156
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posted
Abram's problem was that he didn't trust God that his wife would bear him a child, which to them seemed an impossibility because of her age.
God promised him heirs as cited in Genesis 15:
1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
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The Pharisees tell us what not to do. Jesus tells us what to do.
Romans 10:15 As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Posts: 400 | Registered: Oct 2006
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TEXASGRANDMA
Advanced Member
Member # 847
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posted
I think they thought they were doing the right thing. They were wrong, but as human beings we often want to "help" God out, especially when it seems He is taking too long.
Don't worry that your class thought you were off. I too am often in the minority about things that I think of, but then I am a weird person. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
betty lou
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
http://www.indieheaven.com/artists/mm (son-in-law)http://www.myspace.com/mireles
Posts: 4985 | From: Washington State | Registered: Jan 2003
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Chaffin
Advanced Member
Member # 6221
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posted
This morning in class it was brought up that the reason for trouble between Sarai and Hagar was because Sarai and Abram didn't wait for God to bare a child to Sarai. Well I then brought up that I didn't think they knew they have done anything wrong because that was a common practice back in those days. Well when I said that they looked at me like I was an idiot.
Then I told them a story of a man out at sea on a little boat that had ran out of fuel. A bad storm was coming and he prayed that the Lord rescue him from the storm. Well a yacht came by and offered help but the man refused and said the Lord will rescue me. Later a cruise ship came by and offered help. The man said no thanks the Lord is coming to rescue me. Then a little later an aircraft carrier came to offer help. No thanks he said. The Lord will resuce me. Well the storm comes and the man drowns and goes to heaven. He asked the Lord "Why didn't you rescue me?" The Lord said I sent ships to rescue you but you turned them away.
The Lord offered the man in the story help but he didn't take it. Do think this is what Sarai and Abram thought?
Just a thought....
Posts: 27 | From: Milton, WV. | Registered: Nov 2006
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