1. Helping God Fulfill His Promise October 20, 2013

2. The Problem of the Unfulfilled Promise 1) Sarai has not yet given birth to any children. 2) Sarai attributes the problem to the Lord.

3. Sarai’s Solution to the Unfulfilled Promise 1)Sarai recommends that the promise be fulfilled through Hagar 2)Sarai expects the child to belong to her not Hagar. 3)Sarai took Hagar and gave her to Abram as a wife.

4. Abram’s Response to Sarai’s Solution 1)Abram listened to Sarai. 2)Sarai gave and Abram received Hagar as his wife. 3)Abram lays with Hagar and she becomes pregnant.

5. Results of Sarai’s Solution 1)Hagar looked at Sarai with contempt. 2)Sarai blames Abram for Hagar’s contempt. 3)Abram responds with indifference. 4)Sarai harshly mistreats Hagar causing her to leave.

6. God Speaks to Hagar  God says what is your past and what is your future?

7. Hagar Speaks to God  I am fleeing my mistress Sarai.

8. Two Instructions to Hagar 1)Return to your mistress Sarai 2)Submit to Sarai

9. God’s Promise to Hagar 1)You are pregnant and you will give birth to a son. 2)I will multiply your offspring so they cannot be numbered. 3)You shall call his name Ishmael – “God hears”. 4)Your son will be wild and free and will be in perpetual conflict with everyone around him.

10. Hagar Worships the Lord 1)Hagar glories in the Lord not the promise. 2)Hagar bestows a worthy name upon God.

11. Promise Keeping Truths of God 1)Waiting on God is an essential part of trusting God and His promises. 2)There are no shortcuts to God’s will and purposes. 3)God never needs our help to keep his promises and Word. 4)We are never to desire the promises more than the promise giver.