Charity Autry
Genesis 16:1-6
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children.  But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children.  Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

 Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. 

 When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”

 6”Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said.  “Do with her whatever you think best. “Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.

Reflection: 

I was born in 1977, the same year the original Star Wars was released. Even if you aren’t a Star Wars fan, Yoda, a cute Star Wars character, is a cultural icon. Yoda was doling out knowledge at the ripe age of 900. If Abram and Sarai were Jedi, Yoda would have told them “Patience you must have, my young Padawan.” Just like the young Jedi in Star Wars, these “young” people, Abram 99 and Sarai 90 did not have patience either. I could sit back and judge the Jedi, Abram, and Sarai, but I too suffer from impatience. How many times have the actions of my impatience impacted someone else? Too many. I would like to think the older I get the less I make these decisions. However less, they still happen.  

Genesis 16 tells a similar story of impatience, bad decisions, and repercussions. God told Abram he would be the “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5).  Not only did God speak to Abram; but God also had a covenant with him, and still Abram and Sarai could not wait. When childbearing did not happen on their timetable, Sarai’s faith waned, and she could not wait any longer. She gave her slave, Hagar, to her husband to bear a child. This act was not out of the cultural norm of the time. Sarai’s lack of faith caused her pain. She began to be jealous of Hagar and in turn treated her badly. She even tells Abram he is the reason for her sufferings (Genesis 16:5). As with most impatient decisions, Sarai’s actions had severe ramifications. Hagar ran away to get away from her mistress.

Like many of us, in her impatience, Sarai found the “dark side”. She took her regret out on Abram and Hagar. When we make poor decisions, we lash out at those closest to us. Instead of taking responsibility for our actions, we treat others badly. Sarai created the problem; Abram went along with it and Hagar ran away from it. Does any of this sound familiar? 

Can you look back at an impatient decision and see where you may have reacted badly and ruined a relationship? Are there areas in your life you need to have patience? Faith, home, family, work, health, friendships? It is hard to know when it is time to act and when it is time to be patient.  However, we can pray, be still and ask for guidance.  At the end of this biblical story Sarai (Sarah) eventually bears a son with Abram (Abraham), just like God said. There are parts of our lives, if we are just patient, that will work themselves out. Have a little faith, because the alternative leads us down a dark path. 

“Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you, it will.”-Yoda

Prayer:

Lord, being patient can be hard for my earthly soul. Please remind me that you have a plan and to have faith in your work.  I pray for patience in my faith, home, family, work, health, and friendships. When I am impatient, I pray for your grace and forgiveness. Amen.