Trusting God's Timing: Avoiding Our Own Ishmaels

 

Summary

In the concluding part of our series "Relationships Made Simple," we delve into the profound lesson encapsulated in the phrase "Be careful what you ask for." Drawing from the narrative of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis chapters 12, 15, and 16, we uncover the perils of impatience and the consequences of taking matters into our own hands instead of trusting in God's timing and promises.

Abraham, at the age of 75, received a hint from God about a promised child, a future filled with descendants as numerous as the stars. However, after a decade of waiting, Sarah and Abraham grew weary. In their weariness, they decided to bypass God's promise by having Abraham conceive a child with Hagar, Sarah's servant. This decision led to the birth of Ishmael, a decision that would have lasting implications and bring about emotional turmoil, strained relationships, and a lesser alternative to God's best.

The core of this message is about the importance of waiting on God's promises and not rushing ahead to create our own solutions. When we act prematurely, we often give birth to "Ishmaels" – outcomes that are lesser versions of what God intended for us. These outcomes can overshadow the blessings meant for us, like Isaac in Abraham and Sarah's story. We are reminded that God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and His timing is perfect.

We must be cautious not to birth Ishmaels that may grow into burdens, overshadowing the blessings meant for us. We must also be discerning, not settling for knockoff versions of God's promises, whether it be in relationships, careers, or other areas of life. We are called to trust God's process, even when it's challenging, and to learn from our mistakes, growing wiser for the future.

Key Takeaways:

1. Patience is not merely a virtue; it is a divine requirement for receiving God's best for our lives. When we rush ahead of God's timing, we risk creating situations that can cause emotional and relational strain. It is in the waiting that our faith is nurtured, and blessings unfold in perfect timing. [37:29]

2. Our words carry the power to shape our reality. As believers, we must think before we speak, understanding that our declarations have the power to frame our world. We are made in the image of a creative God, and our speech should reflect that divine attribute, calling forth those things that align with His will for our lives. [25:11]

3. Trusting in God's way means acknowledging that our understanding is limited. We must lean not on our own insights but on God's omniscience. His perspective is eternal, and His guidance is always for our ultimate good. When we trust in His way, we walk in the assurance that our steps are ordered by the Lord. [31:19]

4. Consideration of others is essential in decision-making. Our choices should not be made in isolation but in the context of community and counsel. By seeking the wisdom of others, we can avoid blind spots and make decisions that honor God and reflect the value He places on relationships and mutual edification. [29:43]

5. Learning from our mistakes is an opportunity for growth and wisdom. As we navigate life, we will inevitably make errors, but the righteous rise again, not using grace as an excuse to fall but as a means to get back up, learn, and move forward with a heart aligned with God's purposes. [34:41]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 12:1-3 (NIV)
> The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

2. Genesis 15:1-6 (NIV)
> After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

3. Genesis 16:1-6 (NIV)
> Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.” “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.

#### Observation Questions
1. What promise did God make to Abram in Genesis 12:1-3?
2. How did Abram respond to God's promise in Genesis 15:1-6?
3. What decision did Sarai and Abram make in Genesis 16:1-6, and what were the immediate consequences of that decision? [04:46]
4. How did Sarai's feelings change towards Hagar after she conceived? [05:27]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Abram and Sarai decided to take matters into their own hands instead of waiting for God's promise? [01:58]
2. How does the story of Abram and Sarai illustrate the dangers of impatience and taking control of God's promises? [06:42]
3. What does the birth of Ishmael represent in the context of the sermon, and how can it apply to our lives today? [16:57]
4. How can we discern between waiting on God's timing and taking proactive steps in our lives? [31:19]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you acted impatiently and took matters into your own hands. What were the consequences, and what did you learn from that experience? [07:21]
2. How can you practice patience in a current situation where you are waiting on God's promise? What steps can you take to trust in His timing? [37:29]
3. Think about your speech and the power of your words. How can you be more mindful of what you say to align with God's will for your life? [22:02]
4. In what ways can you seek counsel from others to avoid blind spots in your decision-making process? Who can you turn to for wise advice? [29:43]
5. Identify an "Ishmael" in your life—something you created out of impatience. How can you address this situation and realign with God's original plan for you? [18:52]
6. How can you learn from past mistakes to grow in wisdom and avoid repeating them in the future? What practical steps can you take to ensure you rise again after a fall? [34:41]
7. Consider a relationship that has been strained due to poor decisions. What actions can you take to mend this relationship and restore trust? [11:02]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Divine Timing
Patience is often a challenging virtue to cultivate, especially when one's heart is set on a particular outcome. Yet, it is in the quiet seasons of waiting that character is built and faith is deepened. The story of Abraham and Sarah serves as a poignant reminder that when individuals attempt to accelerate the fulfillment of divine promises on their own terms, they may inadvertently create complex situations that lead to emotional and relational turmoil. Patience is not simply a passive state but an active, intentional posture of trust in the divine orchestration of life's events. It is a divine requirement that, when honored, aligns one's life with the perfect timing of blessings intended to unfold. [37:29]

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" - Psalm 27:14 (ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you're tempted to rush ahead of God's timing. How can you actively practice patience and trust in this area of your life?

Day 2: The Power of Our Words
The words spoken by individuals carry immense power, capable of shaping reality and influencing the course of life. As beings created in the image of a creative God, it is crucial to recognize the weight of words and the responsibility that comes with this divine attribute. Speaking life and aligning one's declarations with God's will is not merely a practice of positive thinking but a spiritual discipline that frames the world around. By carefully considering the words uttered, believers can become co-creators with God, calling forth His purposes and aligning with His plans for their lives. [25:11]

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." - Proverbs 18:21 (ESV)

Reflection: What are some words you've spoken recently that do not align with God's will for your life? How can you begin to reshape your declarations to reflect His truth and promises?

Day 3: Trusting in God's Omniscience
Acknowledging the limitations of human understanding is a humbling yet essential aspect of faith. Trusting in God's way means leaning not on one's own insights but on His omniscience. His perspective is eternal, and His guidance is always for the ultimate good of those who follow Him. When individuals trust in His way, they can walk with the assurance that their steps are ordered by the Lord, even when the path ahead seems uncertain or the reasoning behind His plans remains a mystery. This trust is the foundation of a life lived in harmony with divine purpose. [31:19]

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." - Isaiah 55:8 (ESV)

Reflection: Can you identify an area in your life where you struggle to trust in God's omniscience? What practical steps can you take to surrender your understanding and lean on His?

Day 4: The Value of Community in Decision-Making
Decisions made in isolation can often lead to unintended consequences and missed opportunities for growth. The value of community and counsel in decision-making cannot be overstated. By seeking the wisdom of others, individuals can avoid blind spots and make choices that honor God and reflect the value He places on relationships and mutual edification. This practice of consideration ensures that decisions are not just self-serving but contribute to the well-being of the community and align with the collective pursuit of God's will. [29:43]

"Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed." - Proverbs 15:22 (ESV)

Reflection: Think of a decision you are currently facing. Have you sought counsel from others? How can you involve your community in this decision-making process to ensure it honors God?

Day 5: Wisdom Through Learning from Mistakes
Mistakes are an inevitable part of the human experience, but they also present opportunities for growth and wisdom. Learning from errors and rising again is a testament to the resilience of the righteous. Grace is not an excuse to fall but a means to get back up, learn, and move forward with a heart aligned with God's purposes. This process of learning and growing wiser for the future is an essential aspect of spiritual formation, allowing individuals to navigate life with a deeper understanding of God's grace and a stronger commitment to His path. [34:41]

"for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes." - Proverbs 24:16 (ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent mistake. How can you use this experience as a stepping stone for growth, and what specific lesson can you carry forward in your spiritual journey?

Quotes

1) "Be cautious of birthing Ishmaels for they may grow into burdens that overshadow the blessing meant for you." [18:52] (Download | Download cropped video)

2) "When you get ahead of your skis and you don't trust God for the process and you don't wait on God to do what he's going to do and wants to do, you end up giving birth to Ishmaels." [15:03] (Download | )

3) "Trust God's way. I know you're smart, I know you got all those degrees... but trust God. Proverbs 3:5 says trust in the Lord with all thine heart; lean not to your own understanding." [31:19] (Download | )

4) "Your words have power... you have the power to speak your reality into existence and some of you have literally framed your world, good or bad, by the power of your own words." [22:43] (Download | )

5) "Learn from your mistakes. Learning from our mistakes is an opportunity for us to learn and for us to grow to become wiser for the future." [33:48] (Download | )

6) "Waiting upon the promise is not a delay but a Divine appointment where faith is nurtured and blessings unfold in perfect timing." [37:29] (Download | )

7) "Consider others. Bring somebody else's voice in it, bring someone else's opinion. Philippians 2:4 says each of you should look not only to your own interest but also to the interest of others." [30:43] (Download | )

8) "When you realize the thing I am, I've been called to do, it's not by power, it's not by might, it's by the spirit of God that I'm going to be a world changer." [26:27] (Download | )

9) "You don't need a knockoff vision, you don't need a knockoff dream when it comes to what God desires to do in you and through you." [16:57] (Download | )

10) "God wants some of us to grow up... so that you may be mature and complete, and here's the benefit of you growing up: that you will not lack anything." [36:43] (Download | )