Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. - Psalm 27:14
Sarah and Abraham
Genesis 18:10-19
Vs. 10 "And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh. And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." - Genesis 18:10-19
God promised Abraham a son despite he and his wife Sarah's old age. Sarah actually laughed when she overheard the prophecy being told to Abraham, then she lied about it later. Due to her lack of faith Sarah encouraged Abraham to sleep with her maid, Hagar to bare a child. Once the child was born God told Abraham that the birthright will not go to his son with Hagar, but the son he will bare with his wife.
When Abraham was 100 years old and his wife 90, Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Had they waited on the Lord, instead of trying to "help" Him, Abraham would not have given into fornication and produced a child who would grow up without his natural father.
God told Abraham he would be the father of many nations. Why, on earth would God expect someone to sin to fulfill his/her purpose? This story is the perfect example of the importance of believing God of His word and waiting on Him. Even if we mean well, the outcome and execution of our actions matter too. God usually does not supply all of the pieces to the puzzle right away. Those of us that hear from Him know that you receive instruction as you move. Waiting prevents us from settling. Whether it be in long term relationships, signing contracts etc. Whether we believe we may hear from God or not, we have all been blessed with God given intuition. We know our gut tell us when something is not right, or when it is. We just have to listen.
Consider Proverbs 14:12
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death".
