Skip to main content

Waiting for God to act

 [WOMEN of the Old Testament] 

SARAH & HAGAR: Waiting for God to act_ 

Genesis 16 / 18:1-15 

 
Have you ever been guilty of thinking that God needs some help or ‘advice’ when it comes to keeping promises? 
When things don’t seem to be happening the way that we want or in the timeframe that we think they should, the temptation can be to take matters into our own hands. 
It’s one thing to believe that God will answer our prayers... it’s another thing entirely waiting for the answer. 

[Group discussion starter] Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” 
How have you found this Proverb to be true in your life? 
When is waiting hard and when is it easy? 
What does this tell us about the human heart? 

 
God made a promise to Abram & Sarai. 
God said He would bless the whole world through the child He would give them. 
At first, they waited excitedly and eagerly. But after years of waiting, what was happening to their faith? Would God keep that promise? Should they take matters into their own hands?... 

 

[Read Genesis 16] 

 
Over a period of 2 decades God repeated His promise to make a great nation out of Abram’s offspring. As the years went by and no child was conceived, how do you think Sarai felt about herself? 

 

 

When Sarai suggested Hagar as a substitute (surrogate) mother, she was actually following a custom that was acceptable in her culture. In Genesis 16:4-5, at what point did she regret that decision? 

 

Notice how Sarai blames Abram (in verse 5). Why do we tend to want to blame others for our own bad decisions? 

 
 

In verses 7-14, what does Hagar learn about God in her personal struggles over this pregnancy? 
 

 

Considering Hagar’s position in Abram’s household, what would it cost her to obey the angel’s instruction? 
 

 

Thirteen years later God again appears to Abram, reminds him of the promise and changes their names to Abraham and Sarah... 

 
[Read Genesis 18:1-15] 

 
To what lengths does God go to demonstrate to Abraham and Sarah the certainty of his promise? 
How do you think Abraham and Sarah felt about God after He took these actions? 
 

 

In verses 10-15, what does Yahweh seem to know about Sarah? 
What did Sarah need to learn about Yahweh? 
 

 

Is God’s knowledge of your private thoughts and fears a comfort or a distress to you? 
Why? 
 

 

In your own times of waiting, what choices and possible outcomes do you face?  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Disciple: Judas

  {Disciples} JUDAS ISCARIOT_   Turning away     The most notorious of al the disciples – and the one universally scorned – is Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus. His name appears in every list of the disciples (except in Acts 1), and it always appears last.   The other eleven are an encouragement to us because they show how common people can be used by God, even with all their faults and failures, to do remarkable things.   Judas, on the other hand, stands as a warning about the power of spiritual carelessness and pride, which can drag us away from loyalty to Christ.   Judas lived in close proximity to Jesus for three years.   He heard every teaching; he saw every miracle.   But in all that time his heart only grew harder.   The other disciples were being transformed, by Jesus, into passionate followers; Judas was being changed too...     [Group discussion starter] Have you ever had a friend or colleague that appeared to b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ephesians 5:21 - 6:9

  [Grace and Peace] EPHESIANS_   [Activity] Spend some time exploring the logical flow of Ephesians 5:21-6:9…   [Read Ephesians 5:21]   Paul addresses different relationship types (marriage, family, co-workers) when he writes to the Ephesians. Before he gets specific in his instructions, he gives a general one. What attitude are we supposed to have towards others?     What should submission look like in daily life?     [Read Ephesians 5:22-33]   In verses 22-24, why does Paul tell wives to submit to their husbands?     How does remembering that a wife is really submitting to the Lord affect submission to a husband?     In verses 25-33, how are husbands, in turn, to treat their wives?     How does comparing a husband’s love for his wife to how the Messiah loves the church remove any danger of the husband abusing the wife’s submission?       What ...
Post a Comment
Read more

PARABLE: the rich man and Lazarus

  {PARABLE} the rich man and Lazarus_   Luke 16:19-31   Have you ever heard someone say that religion is just  a ‘crutch’ or just a source of comfort for the weak?   Have you ever heard someone say that religious people pay no attention to those who are hungry or suffering?   Christianity doesn’t teach passive suffering in the face of injustice and oppression. Jesus calls us to serve those who are in need.     [Discussion starter] Have you ever been asked for money by someone homeless?   How did you react?     The final parable in this study reminds us that suffering in this life can be replaced by bliss in the next ...     [Read Luke 16:19-31]     In verses 19-21, how does the parable reveal the rich man’s lack of concern for Lazarus?       How would you account for the rich man’s indifference towards Lazarus?       What are some of the ways that you have heard people explain why ...
Post a Comment
Read more