The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 10 January 2023 – Go Back And Submit
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TOPIC: Go Back And Submit
READ: Genesis 15:1-21
1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.
6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thine hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
Also Read: Open Heaven 10 January 2023 – Sow Good Seeds Ahead
THE MESSAGE:
The text shows that Sarai was barren and she requested Abram to go into Hagar to get children by her. When Hagar conceived she despised Sarai who ill-treated her and she ran away. In Hagar’s attempt to justify the cause of her ordeal, she was made to understand that the way forward was for her to go back and submit to her mistress, Sarai.
If it were today, many of us would have advised Hagar to engage in violent prayers so that Sarai would die or give way for her to possess her possession in Abram’s Family. A 7-day vigil with fasting would have possibly been recommended so that Sarai would be chased out. But God knows that Hagar was not justified in her conduct. Be careful how you pass judgment, especially in issues that deal with marriages, and other internal issues like master-and-servant misunderstanding. Please go back and submit and let peace reign. Humble yourself so that God will fulfil his purpose for you. Do not destroy your future, marriage or career because of worthless ego. If you have wronged your wife or husband, kindly go and make peace.
PRAYER: Gracious God, grant me the grace to initiate reconciliation where necessary in my family in Jesus’ name Amen.
