Unclenched Fists
Scripture
Hagar and Ishmael
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2 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. 3 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. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 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.”
6 “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. (Genesis 16:1-6).
Reflection
A project manager instructs his assistant to accomplish specific tasks ASAP. After two weeks have gone by, the assistant still hasn’t completed these seeming straightforward tasks, and since there’s an important deadline approaching, the project manager decides to take matters into his own hands; he completes the work himself. This response is not unfamiliar when someone we’ve counted on doesn’t follow through or fails to keep a commitment. If we fear plan A won’t work out for us, we take matters into our own hands and devise a plan B.
It might seem reasonable to form and even act on a plan B when someone often doesn’t follow through, but to enact a backup plan out of a lack of trust, even when someone has been faithful and trustworthy is a waste of time and energy, and it might even result in embarrassment…or worse.
God had promised a son to Abram, a son who would be of his own flesh and blood. Still childless after living for ten years in Canaan, Sarai took matters into her own hands to fulfill that promise. After all, she was past childbearing age: “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’” (Genesis16:1, 2). It seemed reasonable, except that she did not take into account who it was who had promised Abram a son, that he was faithful and always kept his commitments; he needed no help.
Sarai carried out her plan B, which quickly backfired. Hagar began to despise Sarai when she knew she was pregnant, and Sarai in return accused Abram of agreeing to her own plan and mistreated Hagar. We see the brutal consequences that took place when Sarai took matters into her own hands.
During this season of Lent, let us reflect on this passage in our spiritual journey with the Lord. As we observe Sarai taking matters into her own hands, it’s interesting to consider how taking something requires us to hold the item with a firm grasp, while giving something requires us to hold the item loosely. Let us remember that God invites us to unclench our fists and let go of our own plans as we trust in his perfect plan for our lives. May we be encouraged to give matters unto the Lord’s hands with unclenched fists and open hearts to serve him, trusting him to carry out his perfect plans.
Prayer
Father in heaven, thank you that you invite us to come to you with open hands. Please help us to have unclenched fists and willing hearts to serve you, for your plan is the best plan for our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
2024 Lenten Journey
Adrian Brown