DOING GOD’S WORK MAN’S WAY

January 15, 2021

God specializes in promising the impossible. He asks us to believe Him for things we cannot see—things beyond belief. This creates a dilemma that is only solved by faith, and it is this faith that He is after.

Consider Abraham, often known as the Father of Faith. Abram (as he was initially named) had no children. At an old age, God promised him that he would have a son and that a whole race of people would come through his line that would bless the world. Abram probably believed the promise would be fulfilled within months. But time went by, and with it, the physical impossibility of this promise being fulfilled grew greater.

SUBSTITUTE PLANS

Abram’s wife, Sarai, impatient with God, decided that she must help God. She devised an alternate plan to get an heir by giving Abram her maid to see if a child could be born.

So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go into my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. (Genesis 16:2-3)

Abram gave in to the voice of Sarai like Adam did with Eve. It’s a good thing for a husband to listen to his wife, but he must first listen to God.

Abram cooperated, and a child was born, but God made it very clear that this was not the promised heir. This child became the father of the Arab race, which has been through the centuries a constant source of conflict to the nation of Israel.

WAITING ON GOD

Abram continued to wait and believe, and God gave him and Sarai a child when Abram was 90 years old. God changed his name to “Abraham,” which meant the father of a multitude, signifying a miracle that could only be ascribed to God. God knew what He had planned to do all along. He was getting his servant in a place where he could be used as an instrument to show the world that God is a promise-keeping God.

Is there something that God has promised you that you have stopped believing? Or have you tried to do God’s work man’s way? Have you devised a way to orchestrate circumstances so it looks like God has answered, but it’s merely your human manipulations?

Understand God’s agenda when He promises the impossible. He wants to show you and the world His glory and build your faith in the process. Don’t devise your plans to accomplish God’s promises. God is better at being God than you are.

Father, thank You that you invite us to join You in Your work. Your ways are perfect, and Your promises are true. Help us simply believe You and fully cooperate with Your direction and show Yourself through us to a watching world.

 

1.15.21

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