Genesis 16—17: When Faith Falters

Warming Up to God

You are like a jar of clay filled with the Spirit of Christ. Pour out to him your weariness, sin or discouragement, and let him pour into you his cool water of grace and peace.

• Weariness? I am always tired. I am doing well to get up before 6 (the goal is 5:30 but it usually ends up being 4:45...today it ws 5:50...), but I am so tired that I wonder how much I am able to actually learn here.
• Then there is the fact that I don't really feel like I am making a difference here. I go day to day, thinking of the things that I want. Yes, I pray for people. But I still don't serve as much as I think I should. It is hard for me with my little ones to balance time for service. I just need to learn more ways to do so with my kids instead of without them.
• I am also discouraged because I still fear what God is going to "do to me" to make me suffer for having such a good life. What is he going to take from me in order to draw me closer to him? It makes me fearful of him, but not in a good way. I am fearful to really seek him because if I do, he will take things away from me. I know it sounds strange, even as I type it. But I feel like this thought is holding me back somehow- keeping me from a deeper relationship with Christ.
• Help me seek you no matter the cost. I am fearful, fill me with an unfathomable peace that I may not hold back, but dive in and be content.

Discovering the Word

Sarai and Abram's action seems strange to us, but it was an acceptable custom in ancient Near Eastern culture. Yet how might their action indicate a lack of faith?

• God promised to provide. But he always uses his own timing. Waiting for God can bring out the worst of thoughts. Despair, anger, unworthy fears. Faith takes patience. Lots of patience. Their action indicated a lack of faith because God promised to provide, but they didn't really believe that he would provide.

Hagar flees to the wilderness of Shur on the northeast frontier of Egypt, her native land. What promises and encouragement does the angel give to her (16:7-12)?

• Her offspring will be mulitplied through her child.
• She shall have a son, but he will be a wild man.

What does Hagar learn about the Lord through this traumatic experience (16:13-14)?

• She learned that God sees all.

In 17:1-8 "God Almighty" appears to Abram and, ironically, changes his name from Abram ("exalted father") to Abraham ("father of many"). What covenant promises does the Lord reiterate in these verses?

• God will multiply Abram greatly.
• He then changes Abram's name to Abraham and tells him that he will be the father of many nations. (not just the Jews? Is he speaking of times to come?)
• Kings shall come from Abraham.
• The land of Canaan will belong to Abraham's offspring forever.

In 17:18 Abraham expressed his concern about Ishmael. How does God respond to Abraham's request (17:19-22)?

• God promises to make a great nation from Ishmael.

How did Abraham fulfill his responsibility in the covenant (17:23-27)?

• He circumcised all the men.

Applying the Word

How can impatience with God's timetable and way of working lead us to unbelief and even disobedience?

• If the things that God promises do not happen on our timetable, we begin to feel like we deserve better. Waiting for God is excruciating. Then after these prideful thoughts take hold, we begin to think that we could do it better if we just did it ourselves. When we do act on our own, that is where the disobedience comes in.

Have you ever gone through a difficult time in which you gained new insight into God's concern for you? Explain.

• Mostly, God seems lofty and unreachable. I have difficulty realizing that God has concern for me. I know he is here, and I submit and try to follow him, but as of this day, he seems too far away.
• The only time that may have been was when I was first teaching and everything was so stupid difficult. He gave me peace in my difficult situation.

Responding in Prayer

Ask God to teach you to be obedient in the face of ambiguous or difficult circumstances.

• Teach me to be obedient in difficult situations. Like right now as I try to keep my eyes open and finish this QT well. Or when my children are not being the little angels I think they could be. Or when I am in a situation where I could share your good news and choose not to.