Solving problems is one of the fastest ways to take leadership within a group. Whoever can solve problems will never lack for influence. But the influence gained is not always positive. Sarah's example shows this. God told her husband Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the sand of the sea and the stars in the sky.
But there was a problem: Sarah was infertile and past childbearing age. As the years passed, God's promise seemed less and less likely to be fulfilled. Sarah was facing a problem and felt forced to solve it. Since she lacked patience and trust in God, Sarah applied her own methods. After having waited more than a decade for a son, she tried to fulfill God's will in her own way.
Her solution was named Hagar, her Egyptian servant. But that solution gave her no peace. When Hagar became pregnant by Abraham and bore a son named Ishmael, Sarah despised both Hagar and her newborn son. Hagar had done what was asked of her, but Sarah was not satisfied with that.
Sarah was impatient and insecure.
The problem Sarah faced was not the need for a descendant, but her own impatience. Sarah wanted control - something many leaders like to have, and this story makes that clear.
Instead of trusting God, Sarah tried to fulfill the promise with her own methods and on her own timeline. She relied on her own strength, even though she should have relied on the almighty God. Here it becomes clear what happens when an insecure leader tries to work independently of God.
Insecure leaders.
Insecure leaders have much in common with Sarah:
- They believe God is inattentive, absent, or even against them.
- They let their circumstances determine their understanding of God's character.
- They see life from a perspective of scarcity rather than from a perspective of abundance.
- They become selfish and manipulative.
- They feel intimidated and intimidate others.
- They resent other people's success and turn against them in anger.
- They think that if one person succeeds, someone else has to lose.
- They blame others for their own dilemma.
- They see themselves as martyrs.
- They conclude that attempts at control seem more logical than trusting God.
Perhaps you can identify with Sarah? Do you have an inner desire to control problems? Or are you able to rely on God's way? Ask God to reveal to you how you can deal with your problems in a way that honors him.
Genesis 16:1-16
Hagar and Ishmael
1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
14 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.