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This article was written by Hayley Mizell, producer of Bible Book Club.
Do you like rollercoasters? I am fully in the rollercoaster hate camp. You couldn’t pay me enough money to go on one. And, when my life feels like a rollercoaster of emotion, I am not a fan. In Genesis 15 and 16, we see a glimpse of some twists and turns of Abraham’s life rollercoaster. He trusts God and gets blessed by a covenant from God. Then, in what seems like the next breath, he frets and makes a way to have his own child outside of God’s plan. I wish I could say I’m better than Abraham’s rash decisions but I have been there before–the constant ups and downs of trusting and doubting God.
HAYLEY’S BIBLE BENDER:
My Bible bender is the picture these two chapters give of the sweetness of God in reacting to his sinful children. We first see God sweetly reassure Abraham with this incredible covenant. Then we see God sweetly come to Hagar in her time of fear. He continually and compassionately intervenes. I love this picture of God, that he isn’t just a mighty and just God but also a sweet and caring father. He even left us with Genesis 15:1 to help us with some hard times. The greatest reminder.
Genesis 15:1 “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
In times of fear, apply this verse to yourself: “Do not be afraid _(Your name)___. I am your shield, your very great reward.” It will calm your fears pretty immediately.
VERSES MENTIONED:
SHOW NOTES:
Comparison
| Eve | Sarah | |
| Truth from God | Do not eat…or you will die | You will have a son |
| Lie from the Enemy | “Surely you will not die…you will be like God” | “The Lord has kept me from having children” |
| Pride of Self-reliance (I will have to do this myself) | Eve saw that the fruit was “desirable for (me) gaining wisdom” | “Perhaps I can build a family through her” |
| Influenced Others | Adam | Abraham |
| Consequence for others | Death, labor–land and childbirth for thousands of years | Conflict between Ishmael’s people (Arabs) and Isaac’s for thousands of years. |
The Blessing of Ishmael
