God's Timing

I have been following the pregnancy of two young women. Both are approaching their delivery dates and both are very anxious and excited to begin their motherhood. 

With our modern technology and through social media, most of us know of a pregnancy within minutes of the mother to be finding out the news. And then we also get to follow the progression of the pregnancy, including all the food cravings and mood swings. We also get to hear about their hopes and dreams for their child. Many times we learn if it is a boy or a girl and sometimes even know the name of the child before they are even born.

I find it all so exciting. 

But imagine being a young pregnant for the first time woman and hearing this prophesy about your unborn child.

"He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone's hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers." (Genesis 16:12 NASB)

A promise was given to Abram. God told him that he would have descendants too many to number. However, Abram and his wife were advanced in years and thought the promise sounded funny. Yet Abram believed.

Abram's wife, Sarai, was hopeful yet doubtful, do you understand how she could be both at once? 

Have you ever been hopeful and doubtful at the same time?

So she rushed God's timing and took matters into her own hands. She gave her maid to her husband as a second wife. And Haggar became pregnant with Abram's child.

This was not how God had planned to give Abram descendants. And so Haggar's child was born under the above prophesy from God.

When we are take our will over God's will for us, we will live with the consequences of those actions.

Do not rush God's timing or try to go around His will for your life. Follow His lead and His direction.

Learning to do that takes patience and practice and a desire to please Him. It means living by and listening to His word.