TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

DEVOTIONAL

by Sandra Chua

The Marshmallow test by Walter Mischel showed videos of children who were placed in a room and given a single marshmallow. They were promised two marshmallows if they didn’t eat the first one until the person came back. Some children quickly ate it up; others waited, licked the marshmallow, and gave in. Still, some were able to wait patiently till the person came back. A follow-up on the lives of those children 40 years later showed that those who were able to wait patiently did better in life. The study concluded that delayed gratification was essential for success in life.

God gave Hagar a promise regarding his son in Genesis 16:12: “He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone’s hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers.” This came to pass as recorded in Gen 25:18b: “He settled in defiance of all his relatives.” God also, in his bountiful grace, gave Abraham a promise regarding Ishmael, Hagar’s son, in Genesis 17:20 to make him fruitful and that he shall become the father of twelve princes. We see here how quickly the promise had been fulfilled according to Genesis 25:16.

In my thoughts, Ishmael now has 12 princes, and Isaac doesn’t even have a son yet. He is still praying for Rebekah to conceive. There is something wrong. Why did God make Abraham and Isaac wait so long? Why didn’t He fulfill His promises through Isaac as quickly as He did through Ishmael? 

Romans 8:24b‭-‬25 came to mind. “Who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance, we wait eagerly for it.” This shows me a  lesson in waiting to build character. James 1:4 “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

What happened to Hagar’s descendants? She saw God. God fulfilled His promises to her, and quite quickly at that. As opposed to Sarah, Abraham and Isaac, their waiting was long. They passed away without seeing all the promises fulfilled. But their descendants followed God. It is difficult to wait. But with this simple lesson, as shown by the life of Hagar and Sarah, it is good to wait because when God asks us to wait, He is not just busy with something else. He has a purpose.

REFLECTION

What are the things you are waiting for God to fulfill or answer? Be thankful to those that have come to pass, and stay strong while waiting for those that have yet to be seen.

PRAYER