Genesis 16-19

Abram and Sarai are getting impatient for a child. Sarai had an idea to speed things up a bit (leave it to the ladies). She said, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her." And guess what Abram did - he agreed!!!!!!!!!!! Soon Hagar was expecting. Then she began to despise Sarai - one pastor called it "getting uppity." She probably started humming rock-a-bye-baby all the time and redecorating the tent in a na-na-na-na-na kinda way. Didn't take long for Sarai to get mad and jealous. She whined to Abram and he said, "Your servant is in your hands. Do with her whatever you think best." Now he's backing out like he didn't do anything. Sarai mistreated Hagar and she ran away. The angel of the LORD met her and said,

"You are now with child

and you will have a son,

You shall name him Ishmael (meaning "God Hears"),

for the LORD has heard of your misery.

He will be a wild donkey of a man;

his hand will be against everyone

and everyone's hand against him,

and he will live in hostility

toward all his brothers."

Then is says, "She gave a name to the LORD who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me.' " I thought it was funny that she "gave God a name"! She WAS Egyptian, and probably didn't know God well.

Ishmael... the father of Iraq and Afghanistan and all those other hostile ones in the Middle East. Everyone's hand is against him, and his hand is against everyone. And why? Because Abram and Sarai did not wait on the LORD to keep his promise. They decided to speed things up - and look what came of it. Trying to fullfill God's plan by ourselves doesn't work.