Presumption vs Promise

All too often I am impatient.  It’s one of my many flaws.  I’m well aware of it and that awareness is to my advantage this time.

This past Sunday I was at my home church and heard a great message from my pastor.  He spoke of Abraham and the promise and blessings that were foretold to him by the Lord long before they came into being.  At one point in his life, however, he decided to try to help God along in reaching his promise.  Abraham listened to his wife and took Hagar (his wife’s slave) so that they (Abraham and Sarah) could have the offspring God promised.  But this wasn’t the promise.  This was Abraham and Sarah’s presumption.

The promised offspring would come about 15 years later from Sarah’s womb, not another woman, and his name was Isaac.  Ishmael, Isaac’s half-brother, would watch as his younger brother would receive all of Abraham’s blessing and his lineage would forever be at odds against God’s promise.  Not convinced, look at the muslim world today.  The only time they get along is when they unite to fight against Christians or Israel.

It was a great message and one that I took very deeply to heart.  I feel firmly that I know what God’s called me to do.  I choose NOT to force my presumption on to His direction, though.  I want to see an Isaac born from my spiritual labor and not an Ishmael.  I want God’s promise and blessing, not turmoil that can destroy ambitions, dreams, and relationships.

Psalm 19:13 ESV
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
      let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
      and innocent of great transgression.

And so in my impatience, God teach me patience.  At Your timing, make it abundantly clear and until then, prevent me from taking a step that would lead to missing your promise.

— Pastor Rick