September 29 - She Had An Handmaid.

Genesis 16:1
“Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.”
 
She.
She was considered barren because she had not conceived a child, yet she knew of the promise that the Lord had made unto her husband.
 
Why had she not gotten pregnant yet?
She was getting up in years, and time was short.  
 
Sarai.
She had an idea…”she had an handmaid”…she could carry the promised seed of Abram.
 
Genesis 16:2-4
“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. 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. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.”
 
She regretted her decision as soon as she saw the fruit of her deceitfulness.
 
Genesis 16:5
“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.”
 
She knew that there would be consequences for her actions.
 
Sarai also serves as our example that it is not wise for us to manipulate situations to fit God’s plan for our lives. His thoughts are higher than ours, and His ways are always better.
 
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 45-46  |  Romans 12  |  Proverbs 29