Daily Devotional for Wednesday, January 22

Hagar's Marriage Was of the Flesh

"But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise;' Galatians 4:23.

You have probably heard the phrase "the best laid plans of mice and men." Until I researched it, I never knew that it came from the Robert Burns poem "To A Mouse." Many of us probably know that this saying means that no matter how well you plan for something, there may stillbe things that mess up. A simple example is a trip to the grocery store. You can write up a list, check it twice, peruse the ads and the apps, save your money and your coupons and be as prepared as you can be, only to get to the store and realize it are out of what you need. Or maybe you come home and start unpacking and realize there is something you forgot to put on the list. Mywife is a tremendous planner, but usually within aday or two of our vacation we will realize something was left behind.

I remind our church often that the Bible is full of human people. We like to put these great heroes of the faith on apedestal, but we forget that Abraham, Joshua, David, Paul, Peter and everyone else-except Jesus­ were flawed human beings like you and I are. And like us, they were sinners in need of a Savior.

Sarai thought she had a foolproof plan. If she could not have children, she would convince Abram to have children with her handmaid Hagar. This arrangement led to Ishmael, who was not the promised offspring of Abram. Sarai had the same problem we have when we deviate from the will of God. If it is not God's will it is not a good idea, no matter how well prepared we think we are. And like Sarai, we will invariably regret not trusting God (Genesis 16:5).

CHALLENGE

The next time you think your way is better than God's way,think again.

Chris Floyd