Genesis 16 - Hagar and Ishmael | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

Listen to Genesis 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.Genesis 16 is the story of Abram and Sarai’s attempt to take things into their own hands and try to fulfil God’s promise to them of a son. This video explains how firstly the practice of using a slave to have children was not only an accepted custom, but also lawful for the society of the times. Yet it isn’t God’s plan to do things in this manner.Many believers have a sense of things that God is going to do for them, and can easily fall prey to the temptation of forcing things to happen. They try to rush ahead of God. There are things we should do because of obedience, but we must not take initiative when it's not within God’s plan to do so. Later in scripture David knew he was promised to be king, but he refused to kill King Saul when he had the opportunity. He didn’t overstep God’s law thinking that God’s promises gave Him an excuse because they didn’t. But here Abraham goes along with the culture of the day, and not stopping to enquire if this is what God wants.There is a place to wait for God and believe Him. When Abram and Sarai took things into their own hands, the result was the birth of Ishmael, who did end up being a great man also, but also caused many personal difficulties for the family as this and subsequent chapters of Genesis reveals. When we do things God’s way, and allow Him to act, we are spared many unnecessary difficulties.