And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

A number of years ago, I preached a message entitled, “Go Back and Deal With It,” based on the story of Hagar (an Egyptian maid) running from her mistress, Sarai (Sarah). Sarai, foolishly offered Hagar to her husband, Abram (Abraham) to conceive a child by him (Genesis 16). This was a desperate measure on Sarai’s part because she was old and childless. When Hagar became pregnant by Abram, Hagar became prideful and began to despise her mistress, Sarai; that is, she started looking down on her.

Sarai, realized the error of her ways and started treating Hagar harshly. Rather than stay and deal with the harsh treatment, Hagar ran away. God sent an angel to fetch her. When the angel found her, she was in the wilderness by a spring of water on the way to Shur. The angel gave her an explicit command from God: “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand” (v.9). In other words, “Go Back and Deal With It!”

I want you to note several things about Hagar. She was in a situation that she had no control over. Perhaps, like some suggest, Abram brought her back as a maid from Egypt after his brief stay in that land. More than likely, Hagar had no say in the matter, but was sold to him. When Sarai offered Hagar to her husband, what choice did she have, but to lie with him.

Despite these unfortunate circumstances, Hagar exhibited pride or became puffed up after she became pregnant. God hates pride (Proverbs 6:17), so not only did He have to protect Abram’s seed, but He had to deal with Hagar’s pride. Also, take note of the direction that Hagar was running, she was headed back to Egypt. When we run, we have a tendency to go back to that which is familiar. That’s why investigators look for criminals in environments that are familiar to the perpetrator.

Some of you have your “Nikes^[1]” on, you are running from a situation, person, calling or thing and you are weary from dealing with it. That thing or person that you are dealing with has gotten to be more than you think you can bear. But, I hear God saying, “Go Back and Deal With It!” Face the situation or the person. Answer the call or deal with the thing that is nudging or harassing you.

Yes, some of you are even thinking about going back to your old habits and your old familiar ways, because it seems it would be easier. But God is saying, if you go back NOW, my grace will supersede the circumstances. I will give you My Grace which is more than sufficient to handle what you see as an unbearable predicament.

Don’t wait! “Go Back and Deal With It!”

Pray…

Lord give me the strength to go back and deal with the situation that I am running from. Thank You for being gracious to me

^[1]Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for including the brand “Nike” in my post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I mentioned.

Posted by on Wednesday, July 26th, 2017 @ 1:19AM
Categories: Inspirational