Watch Out For Your Past
God promised Abraham a son with Sarah, his wife. (Genesis 15:2-4, 17:15-16, 19) But, because of unbelief and impatience, Sarah suggested that he impregnate her handmaid, Hagar. Although it wasn’t God’s will, Abraham did it, and Hagar birthed Ishmael. (Genesis 16:1-4, 15) About fourteen years later, Sarah birthed Isaac as God promised. (Genesis 21:1-2) About 1-5 years after that, Sarah tells Abraham to put Hagar and Ishmael out of the house when she sees Ishmael mocking Isaac. When Abraham prays about it, God tells him to do what Sarah said, because Isaac was his promised seed, not Ishmael. After all that time, God obviously had not changed His mind. Ishmael was Abraham’s biological son, but God still instructed Abraham to put Ishmael out of his house. (Genesis 21:8-12)
From this, we should learn that time and circumstances do not change God’s position. Sometimes, we get ourselves into situations or relationships, and we know that God is not in it. Yet, we stay there and after some time or a change in circumstances, we think we now have God’s approval. Not so! If God told you that person was not the one for you, then they still are not the one after you’ve been married for twenty-five years and have three beautiful children. God’s position does not change just because you’ve “been through a lot together”. If God said that job was not for you, then it still isn’t for you even though you’ve celebrated fifteen years with the company. If He did not tell you to start that church, then the church is still out of order after twelve years although it appears to be growing. We sometimes wonder why we don’t have peace or why God’s blessings are not flowing in our lives. But, we fail to acknowledge the disobedience and disorder we’ve been living with for the past years. We think that if God isn’t saying anything, then it must be fine. Not true! If it wasn’t His will then, it isn’t His will today. No matter how long it’s been, no matter how the circumstances have changed, it will catch up with you.
