Ishmael or Isaac?

The women’s group I attend, called “Serious Coffee” at my church is currently doing a study on the book of James.
James 1:14 really struck me “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”
I thought to myself what are my deepest desires that would lead to sinful actions and cause sin to grow?
Not that I don’t already have enough weaknesses that I deal with throughout the day, but I really wanted to know if my desires were leading me away from God’s plan for my life.
Was I being misled, like it says NOT to be in James 1: 16?
A couple of months ago, during a conversation with a friend, I shared how I was praying about an issue and what I was doing to try to resolve it. No matter what I did or tried, nothing came through. The issue was still there.
She said, “You better watch out, you may end up getting an Ishmael instead of an Isaac.”
Well, that stopped me dead in my thought process.
In the book of Genesis, God promised Sarah and Abraham a son. They waited and waited and …no son. So Sarrah took matters into her own hands and had her husband sleep with her maidservant Hagar so she could become pregnant and then they’d have a son.
Well, when Hagar became pregnant, life got bad for both Sarah and Hagar. I doubt if Sarah wants anyone to ask her, “How did that work out for you?”
Then a day came when God did just what He promised he would do for Abraham and Sarah. She became pregnant and gave Abraham a son, named Isaac.
I mean, I can only imagine she probably had those moments of saying, “if only I’d waited” or “if only I’d trusted God”, then those other bad things wouldn’t have happened.
I suppose everyone has their own, “if only”.  I know I have mine. Isn’t it easier to get out there and “fix” the problem instead of waiting to see what direction God would lead or what He would provide? Or to become a complainer and start doubting He is really going to do something in this matter. After all, there are lots of other matters God deals with besides…me.
Sometimes waiting to follow the one who is leading is just plain hard. I mean especially when I really want what I’m praying for then it’s easy to take over and step into the lead. But then I may end up with an Ishmael situation instead of an Isaac.
James 1: 5 tells us if we lack wisdom, to ask God who gives GENEROUSLY to all without finding fault. But James 1:6 and 7 tells us if we doubt we’re not going to get any wisdom. (Paraphrased)
So after reading through this beginning part of James, my pray would be, to be able to resist the temptation and to endure the testing, so I don’t chase after those desires that would lead to sin.
And to wait before I knock down any doors that might open up to “Ishmael!”






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I Wish I Didn't

Image
  I read the text that said you were gone. The disappointment, the deepening of missing you, increased immediately, and grief filled my being. My mind struggles when I am at work or at my sister's with the knowledge you won't be walking in the door with your friendly smile and hello. I won't hear your friendly words or your snarky comments when things go wrong.  I know, I know, I know we all get to be gathered together again as Jesus said, however, there is a hole here in the lives of those who knew you that only you filled. Right now it really trips us up. I know we will figure a way to deal - as you would say. You never made a million in dollars, but you certainly made more than millions in love. We all enjoyed you. You brought so much to your relationships even when you struggled. I am so sorry for your struggles. I know you are at peace now. That energetic smile is probably beaming standing in the presence of our heavenly Fathers love. I believe with all my heart you ar...
Read more

Let Love Shine

Image
When I picked up my phone yesterday I had the thought, I wonder what is happening on Facebook today. My next thought was, I hope nothing bad happened . The first post - something bad had happened in Vegas. I looked at the news. Are there any words to express about something, that my mind cannot grasp, had  happened? Then it got personal when I discovered a couple of my family members knew people who had lost their lives at this concert and others who were injured. I have no words. I cannot grasp who or why would do such a horrible thing. And whenever I think of what the people at the concert went through, while running away from the bullets, there is no words, only tears. I am not normally a name caller, but no matter what his mental condition was at the time, no matter what his reasons, only a little coward would do what he did. The people had no way to defend themselves. No way to counter attack. Purely an evil cowardly act of violence. And the point? There is none. ...
Read more

Praying? Really?

Image
  I made a comment couple of days ago, of how I would like to be like Peter or Paul right now. I would like to be so close and open to hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit that I can say to her, as she lays before me on the hospital bed, with machines, and skilled nurses working to keep her alive, and comfortable, "Rise and walk, in Jesus name." Or I could clearly hear God say she will, but she will rise into eternity with Me. Instead I pray desperate prayers. I know stories of miracles. I want one now.   I also want to be able to accept if what I want Him to do, is not what He is going to do. I asked myself, and God, How does my faith apply here? How? Looking at the situation, a negative statement made about prayers and miracles frustrated me, and I wanted to have an opportunity  to have a comeback. I suddenly wanted my prayers for a miracle to say, THIS IS WHY I PRAY! Science is silent when God speaks and God moves! Then I asked, how does my faith, my prayers...
Read more