Readings:
Genesis 16: 1 - 18: 15
Matthew 6: 1-24
Psalm 7: 11-17
Proverbs 2: 1-5
Genesis reading: This reading includes where Sarai, who was unable to conceive, "gave" her servant Hagar to her husband Abram so that they could have the child that Sarai believed she would be unable to conceive. Much debate goes around the treating of servants as mere property in this manner, and some even question whether the sex that took place between Abram and Hagar was consensual (i.e. did Abram rape Hagar?) - not to mention both Sarai and Abraham's clear distrust of God to provide the promised heir.
However, what stands out for me this morning is the age-old human problem - passing the buck. It was Sarai's idea that Abram and Hagar should engage in sexual relations in order to produce a child; however, when things did not turn out according to her plan, Sarai put the blame on Abram. While Abram was by no means innocent in this whole escapade, it was Sarai who shifted the blame rather than take responsibility for her actions - just as Adam did when God confronted him about eating the forbidden fruit.
Often we tend to blame other people, or the devil, or even God, when things go wrong in our lives, yet usually none of these parties had anything to do with it. While the devil may hide the truth from us, or use devious means to deceive us, for the most part our misfortunes are the consequence of our own poor choices. God shows us the way but leaves the decision to us. Therefore, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to make the correct choices - the Godly ones.
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