S) "9 Then the angel of the Lord said to her, 'Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.'"
Genesis 16:9 (NASB)
O) Hagar was in a real, tough situation. Her mistress, who more or less owned her, told her to go in to Abram and sleep with him because Sarai couldn't conceive (see v.2). Then, when Hagar gets pregnant, which was Sarai's initial plan (see v.3), she's in hot water and she is despised by Sarai (see v.5). So, without any real means of defense, she chooses to flee. In a lot of other contexts, this would be esteemed as noble and wise. In this context, though, God had another plan. So, the angel of the LORD commands Hagar to return. Not even to return and fight back against oppression, or to seek some kind of justice. She is commanded to return and submit herself to Sarai who hates her.
A) Disclaimer: every situation is different. I highlighted this verse as Instruction, not because I believe people who work or live in difficult circumstances should remain in those difficult circumstances, but because obedience to the LORD trumps all circumstances. We are not always privy to God's plan and vision for His kingdom. Sometimes, we are given a simple and unexplained command. Sometimes, the leading of the Holy Spirit seems impossibly hard. What I need to remember, though, is that everything according to God's will is perfect. Everything according to His will is trustworthy. His will is not simply good, or better, but it is best. Obeying my Lord is not always easy, it's seldom convenient, but it's always best. In situations when I can't see what good my obedience would do, I need to remember that I do not get to see the whole picture, the full impact, or the complete plans. What's more, is that I don't need to see all of that, as it pertains to me. There is a mountain of evidence, through thousands of years, that show the will of the Lord my GOD as trustworthy and best.
P) Father, this is Your story, and Your kingdom. My glory is worthless and meaningless, but Your glory is worth everything, and it has true meaning. Your glory is at stake in my obedience. When I obey Your commands, even this blind kind, which comes with little details about why or how, that kind of obedience is sometimes the best kind of worship to You. It can bring You the most glory. If it is not Your will to reveal the full impact my obedience might have in Your kingdom, then I pray and ask that You would remind me, at least, that it is still Your call to make. It is Your kingdom, and I just live here, I just work here. I don't own my life, because I couldn't purchase my life. My debt was too great to free myself, and You purchased my life with the blood of Your only begotten Son. Because of that, I concede that my life is Yours to plan and command. I choose blind obedience, because I trust Your will is best. I choose to obey, even with pain and suffering, because it is Your glory at stake, and Your kingdom calls. Let Your will be done on earth, through my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment