Pastor Bob DuPar
January 7, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 16:1-18:19; Matthew 6:1-24; Psalm 7:1-17; Proverbs 2:1-5

Observation

Abram agreed to Sarai’s plan to help God with His promise of offspring. This led to Sarai despising Hagar and feeling that Abram was responsible for the wrong which she felt she was suffering.

I couldn’t help seeing a similarity (however vague) between the angel of the Lord meeting Hagar near the spring in the desert (Genesis 16:7), and Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well in John 4.

I love the name which Hagar gives to the Lord in Genesis 16:13: “You are the God who sees me.”

Genesis 18:1ff speaks of God’s appearance to Abraham in the form of 3 men. This seems like a reference to some physical manifestation of the Trinity.

Application

God does not need our help in fulfilling His promises. We only complicate the process when we take things into our own hands. It’s interesting that Abram was 86 years old (Gen. 16:16) when Ishmael was born, and 99 years old (Gen. 17:1) when the angel of the Lord finally appeared to him to announce the fulfillment of God’s previous promise. This makes me wonder if Abram & Sarai added 3 unnecessary years to God’s timetable/plan.

Prayer

“Lord, thank You that You are ‘the God who sees me.’ You are aware of everything, including my humble circumstances. You are aware, You care, and You have the power to affect change.”