652) In Genesis 16, many years had passed since God promised Abram that his descendants would be like the stars in the heavens but, in Sarai’s mind, God must have forgotten. So, Sarai decides to help God make this happen so she gives her servant, Hagar, to Abram to have a child on Sarai’s behalf. As readers of the book of Genesis, it’s easy to conclude, She’s crazy! What was she thinking? It’s easy to think we wouldn’t have made that choice but we are not in the midst of the circumstances. In spite of God’s promises, Abram agrees with the plan and Hagar soon becomes pregnant. Wonderful! Finally, God is keeping His promise! Right? Wrong! The child, Ismael and his descendants, have brought trouble to the Israelites throughout history. This was not God’s plan; He meant what He said when He told Abram that out of his marriage to Sarai, He would send a son and generations to follow. It’s easy to see God direct circumstances and people in the Old Testament to fulfill His promises but it’s not so easy to trust God that He will bring about what He wants in His own timing. We don’t need to help God keep His word. He will always keep it.