Genesis, 16
6. Abram responded to her by saying, “Behold, your handmaid is in your hand to treat as it pleases you.” And so, when Sarai afflicted her, she took flight.
6. Abram responded to her by saying, “Behold, your handmaid is in your hand to treat as it pleases you.” And so, when Sarai afflicted her, she took flight.
Genesis 16 deals with the story of Sarai, wife of Abram, who could not get pregnant and decided to offer his Egyptian servant, Hagar, to have a child in his place. Hagar became pregnant with Abram, but then was mistreated by Sarai and fled to the desert. The chapter addresses topics such as impatience, lack of confidence in God and the consequences of impulsive choices. Below are five verses related to these themes, in order of proximity to the chapter:
Psalm 37:7: "Rest in the Lord and wait for Him with patience; don't be bored with the success of others, nor with those who make up evil." This verse talks about the importance of patience and trust in God, rather than being frustrated by the prosperity of others or trying to solve things on their own.
Proverbs 14:29: "Who is patient has great understanding, but who is impulsive shows foolish." This verse highlights the wisdom of patience in contrast to the foolishness of impulsive choices, such as those Sarai made by offering Hagar to Abram.
1 Peter 5:7: "Lancone all his anxiety about him, because he takes care of you." This verse encourages Christians to trust God and give their concerns to Him, instead of trying to deal with them alone, as Sarai did by making the decision to offer Hagar Abrão.
Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord of all your heart and do not support yourself in your own understanding; recognize the Lord in all your ways, and He will straighten your paths." This verse talks about the importance of trusting God and recognizing Him in all areas of life, rather than depending only on their own understanding, as Sarai did when trying to solve the problem of infertility with his own solution.
Isaiah 40:31: "But those who await the Lord renew their strength. They fly loudly as eagles; they run and do not exhausted, walk and not get tired." This verse talks about the force that comes from trusting God and waiting in him, instead of hurrying and trying to solve things on his own, as Sarai did by offering Hagar to Abram.
“Temos muita facilidade para pedir, mas não para agradecer”. São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
