When we run ahead of God | Genesis 16:1-16

2024-09-03

On Sunday, 1 September Pastor Craig Baxter continued the series 'Genesis: God's Unveiling Plan of Redemption and Blessing' with 'When we Run Ahead of God' from Genesis 16:1-16. Sarai and Abram generated many complications by their attempt to obtain an heir through the social customs of the day, causing Hagar to flee to the desert. However, the Lord showed Himself faithful by responding to Hagar’s affliction with mercy, providing for her needs, and promising her progeny through Abram’s son, Ishmael. Abram and Sarai were to learn that God hears their prayers and...

On Sunday, 1 September Pastor Craig Baxter continued the series 'Genesis: God's Unveiling Plan of Redemption and Blessing' with 'When we Run Ahead of God' from Genesis 16:1-16.

Sarai and Abram generated many complications by their attempt to obtain an heir through the social customs of the day, causing Hagar to flee to the desert. However, the Lord showed Himself faithful by responding to Hagar’s affliction with mercy, providing for her needs, and promising her progeny through Abram’s son, Ishmael. Abram and Sarai were to learn that God hears their prayers and sees their plight. In this study we learn that instead of running ahead of God’s plan during affliction we should respond by patiently trusting in the Lord because He hears the afflicted, He sees them in their need, and He will fulfill His promises.

Those who run ahead of God and seek to accomplish God’s plans by their own means only complicate their lives (vv. 1-6)
The struggle of waiting on God (vv. 1-2a)
The solution that left God out (vv. 2b-3)
The miserable success of self-made solutions (vv. 4-6)
Since God hears, sees and promises, believers can wait and obey (vv. 7-16)
God hears (v. 11)
God sees (v. 13)
God promises (vv. 10, 12)
God commands (v. 9)

Watch the sermon here

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