The Ripple Effect

“And Abram listened to Sarai and did as she said.” (Genesis 16:2)

Despite the fact the couple was well-advanced in years, God promised them a son. Added to that physical drawback, Sarai was barren—yet Abram and his wife believed God. But after a decade of waiting and still childless (v. 3), Sarai gave her handmaid Hagar to Abram, hoping to have children through her—neither Abram nor Sarai sought God on the matter. Abram disregarded God’s promise by listening to his wife and accepted Hagar as a secondary wife. She gave birth to a son, but Ishmael was not the son of promise.

The consequences of Sarai and Abram’s poor decisions caused ripples of separation, heartaches, envy and jealousy, conflicts, and even wars that continue to this day. Their actions affected all in their path, even the surrounding nations. We cause that same type of ripple effect when we “help” God with His plans rather than wait for Him to act. We may think, God surely did not mean this but that, and we execute a logical action, convincing ourselves it was God-ordained. When we take matters into our own hands, consequences may follow that carry on for generations.

At the age of ninety, Sarah (God changed her name) gave birth to Isaac, the promised son, but not without heart-wrenching consequences. Let’s avoid Abram and Sarai’s pitfalls. Follow God’s instructions, wait on His timing, and trust Him for His best.