“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
God told Abram that he would make him into a great nation, that he would be the father of many nations, and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. (Genesis 12:2 and 22:17) His wife Sarai became restless waiting on the promise of God and decided to ensure that God’s Word would be fulfilled as promised. She told Hagar, her servant, to sleep with Abram, and she conceived, bearing a son named Ishmael. Abram and Sarai did not know God as El Shaddai, the One who would make them fruitful, so they produced a son “of the flesh.” God’s promise to Abram still remained the same, that Sarai would have a son in her old age. He promised a son of the “spirit,” and Sarai bore a son named Isaac from whom the nation of Israel came forth.
Why do we fall into the trap of taking things into our own hands?
I think it is because we do not have a full revelation of El Shaddai, our fruitfulness. We must guard against the temptation to try to fulfill God’s Word to us by ourselves. We might end up with Ishmael, a child of the “flesh.”
Have you tried to make something happen that the Lord promised would happen? As you wait on the Lord to fulfill His promises, there may be things that He asks you to do, but remember to always rely on the Holy Spirit to lead the way. So often I am tempted to make things happen that I believe the Lord has promised. Waiting on the Lord and His timing always births an “Isaac.” Doing things my way leads to an “Ishmael,” and Ishmael was sent out to the desert. If you find yourself in the desert, ask the Lord if you have not believed His word to fulfill His promise. Choose today to trust Him.
Heavenly Father,
I find myself eager to make things happen that I believe are Your will. Help me to pray more earnestly, to wait patiently, and to trust that You will lead the way.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
