Submit To Authority!
Reading: Genesis 16
My Verse: "The Angel of the LORD said to her, Go back to your mistress and [humbly] submit to her control" (16:9).
This is an especially difficult passage for women and anyone in a situation where they are under the authority of an unkind person. Hagar's solution to her problem was to run away, remove herself from the situation. But, You, LORD God, tell her to return and submit.
Hagar's response to this is surprising. She does not whine about it or cry, "Foul!" No, she sees that You do care for her. She recognizes the truth of Your love for her. ". . . because the LORD has heard and paid attention to your affliction." She calls You, El Ro'i or God of seeing. She calls You that because "here I have seen Him Who looks after me." One senses a softening in her attitude because she realizes she is cared for and that You, LORD God have and will make provision for her. It doesn't mean the problems will go away, but You have let her know that You are aware of her situation.
How hard it is for us to allow You to be there for us. Even when we do let down our guard and allow You to be our guide and saviour we tend to forget and go back to trying to deal with difficulties on our own. This very thing happens with Hagar later.
You teach us much about submission. You are a God of order and You have established systems that help us to live in an orderly way despite the sinful nature we all have and the mess we tend to create. Yes, whether it be in politics, community, the home or the church You gave us direction.
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God" (Romans 13:1).
"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you" (Hebrews 13:17).
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the LORD. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is Himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, . . . " (Eph. 2:22-26)
I especially like this admonition:
"Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Eph. 5:21).
Oh, LORD God, You are a loving God, I need to keep coming back to that. You see far beyond what I see. You also want what is best for us. There is so much injustice in the world, help me to see and believe that You are LOVE! "LORD, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: Genesis 16
My Verse: "The Angel of the LORD said to her, Go back to your mistress and [humbly] submit to her control" (16:9).
This is an especially difficult passage for women and anyone in a situation where they are under the authority of an unkind person. Hagar's solution to her problem was to run away, remove herself from the situation. But, You, LORD God, tell her to return and submit.
Hagar's response to this is surprising. She does not whine about it or cry, "Foul!" No, she sees that You do care for her. She recognizes the truth of Your love for her. ". . . because the LORD has heard and paid attention to your affliction." She calls You, El Ro'i or God of seeing. She calls You that because "here I have seen Him Who looks after me." One senses a softening in her attitude because she realizes she is cared for and that You, LORD God have and will make provision for her. It doesn't mean the problems will go away, but You have let her know that You are aware of her situation.
How hard it is for us to allow You to be there for us. Even when we do let down our guard and allow You to be our guide and saviour we tend to forget and go back to trying to deal with difficulties on our own. This very thing happens with Hagar later.
You teach us much about submission. You are a God of order and You have established systems that help us to live in an orderly way despite the sinful nature we all have and the mess we tend to create. Yes, whether it be in politics, community, the home or the church You gave us direction.
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God" (Romans 13:1).
"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you" (Hebrews 13:17).
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the LORD. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is Himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, . . . " (Eph. 2:22-26)
I especially like this admonition:
"Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Eph. 5:21).
Oh, LORD God, You are a loving God, I need to keep coming back to that. You see far beyond what I see. You also want what is best for us. There is so much injustice in the world, help me to see and believe that You are LOVE! "LORD, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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