TEXT:  Gen. 16:1-6

INTRODUCTION:

A.      EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES, SINFUL AND OTHERWISE.

B.      THAT INCLUDES MANY OF THOSE WE REVERE AS HEROES OF FAITH.

C.      OUR TEXT REVEALS A SERIES OF MISTAKES ABRAHAM MADE IN A

          CRITICAL POINT OF HIS LIFE.

E.      WE CAN LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF ABRAHAM.

I.      HE TRUSTED THE FLESH RATHER THAN GOD (vs. 1-2).

A.      GOD’S PROMISE WAS BECOMING A “STRETCH” (vs. 2a).  He was 86, she 76!

B.      A HUMAN SOLUTION WAS FOLLOWED (vs. 2).

          1.       What they did was acceptable in their society (vs. 3).

          2.       Society often runs contrary to what God reveals (Col. 2:8).

          3.       This solution was contrary to God’s plan for marriage (Gen. 2:24).  FORNICATION!

C.      HUMAN  SOLUTIONS ARE DEADLY (Prov. 16:25).

D.      REAL FAITH CALLS US TO OBEDIENCE.

          1.       The Heroes of faith (Heb. 11:7, 8).

          2.       Faith without obedience (James 1:22;  2:14, 17, 20, 24, 26).

          3.       How does faith work (James 2:21-23;  Heb. 11:17-19).

E.      GOD KEEPS HIS WORD! (Acts 27:25).

II.     HE HEEDED ONE NOT TUNED TO GOD’S WORD (vs. 2-4).

A.      GOD SPOKE TO ABRAHAM – NOT SARAH.

B.      TOO OFTEN WE SEEK COUNSEL FROM THOSE OF THE WORLD (Psa. 1:1).

          1.       As noted, worldly wisdom leads to tragedy (Prov. 16:25).

          2.       Worldly counsel does not take God’s will into consideration (Rom. 1:28;  10:16).

          3.       Worldly counsel exalts itself (Rom. 1:21-22;  Eph. 4:17).

          4.       Which leads to ignorance and moral degradation (Eph. 4:18-19).

C.      WE ARE TO BE DISTINCT IN THOUGHT AND ACTION (Rom. 12:2).

D.      WE SEEK THE BEST COUNSEL FROM GOD (Isa. 55:8-9;  1 Cor. 1:21;  3:18-19).

III.    WE OFTEN BLAME OTHERS FOR WHAT WE BRING ON

        OURSELVES (vs. 4-5).

A.      THIS IS SARAH’S MISTAKE!

          1.       It was her idea, and it had consequences she did not anticipate.

          2.       She was quick to blame Abraham for Hagar’s haughtiness.

B.      BIBLICAL EXAMPLES:

          1.       Gen. 3:12-13.  Adam blamed Eve, Eve the serpent, and the serpent …

          2.       1 Sam. 15.  Saul could never accept the blame for his sin.

          3.       2 Sam. 12:13.  David did and was forgiven.

C.      WE MUST ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR SINS TO BE FORGIVEN

          (1 John 1:9;  Psa. 32:1-5).

IV.   WE MUST NOT SHIRK OUR DUTY TO STAND FOR RIGHT

        (vs. 6-16).

A.      IT WAS ABRAHAM’S PLACE TO CORRECT THE ERROR.

          1.       He forfeited the responsibility to Sarah.

          2.       Sarah again did the wrong thing – she acted on feeling without God’s input.

          3.       Hagar was sent back to Sarah.

B.      GOD HAS GIVEN US POWER TO ACCOMPLISH (Phil. 4:13).

C.      HE HAS GIVEN US WORK (Eph. 4:10).

D.      WE ARE TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR AND STAND (Eph. 6:10-13).

CONCLUSION:

A.      Prov 3:5-8.  TRUSTING GOD WILL HELP US TO NOT MAKE MISTAKES THAT

          WILL MESS UP OUR LIVES.

B.      WHEN WE DO MAKE MISTAKES – LIKE SIN – TRUSTING GOD WILL RESULT

          INTHE FORGIVENESS THAT WE ALL DESIRE (Heb. 11:6).