Bible-in OneYear-
Day 8 (January 8)
Genesis 22-24
The greatest
problem of humanity is rivalry. It is a horrible spirit. It is the greatest
weapon in the hand of Satan to turn the back of family members against each
other. It is the stronghold of destiny destroyers among siblings of different
mothers. The best name for it is polygamous witchcraft. The ugly part of it is
that, the children may be in good terms, but their destinies have been tampered
with by the mothers in rivalry.
The children will
usually grow to respect, love and support each other if the influence of their
mothers were not there. Otherwise, everything between them will be misinterpreted.
When you notice cordiality in a home of two different mothers, one of the women
is not in contact with her children; either through death or abandonment. The moment
there is a contact, the tune will change. Exception is rare.
Hagar was Sarai’s
maid. Sarai respected and believed Abraham’s conviction. But she, within the
logics of man, thought that wouldn’t be realistic as far as her agility is
concerned. She was absolutely ignorant of what God had in stock for her. She was
ignorant of the uprightness of God and His faithfulness to His promises. In order
to actualize God’s promises to Abraham, she took a step not to be a hindrance
to God’s move in Abraham’s life. She gave Abraham her maid because Abraham was
not ready to come as low as to be promiscuous within his own household. After all,
Hagar was beautiful enough to look at, otherwise he would have rejected Sarah’s
offer.
The moment Hagar was
upgraded to wifery and she conceived, Sarai felt despised. A pregnant woman will
always have a change in body chemistry which will affect her domestic duties. Many
times, they look more beautiful. This might probably be the condition of Hagar
which Sarai misinterpreted. On the other hand, she might have lost a little bit
of respect for Sarah. She definitely became not submissive.
Genesis
16:4 “And he went in unto Hagar,
and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was
despised in her eyes.”
As woman, who felt
despised, that home became inhabitable for Hagar. The angel of the Lord met her
and told her to learn submission and the house will be okay. She did and we
never heard of another fight or contention between them until she found Ishmael
playing the ‘big brother’ pranks on Isaac. Then, the subdued fire flared up
again.
Genesis
21:9-11 “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the
Egyptian, which she had bornunto Abraham, mocking. 10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her
son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his
son.”
She did not even call Hagar and son by name anymore, but by what
she represented in that home; slave. She was intimidated that Ishmael might
take over the inheritance in future. This was grievous in Abraham.
Rivalry is the problem of the church today. Rivalry between
founders of ministries. Rants of spiritual leaders against another leader. It so
bad that cliques are being formed now as against brotherly love among the body
of Christ. One clique calling another demonic and unscriptural ministry. To another
clique, uneducated. Some even rate anointing. Satan is winning just because the
children of Abraham are at war with each other through the doctrine of the various
mothers; rivalry.
Just as rivalry is polygamous witchcraft, so it has become witchcraft
in the body of Christ and this is a grieve in Jesus Christ. Some thing has been
violated in the body of Christ and that is LOVE.
John
13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if
ye have love one to another.”
Members cannot worship with another ministry. If a ministry was faced
with satanic attack, it is the church that would first condemn that ministry
before the gentiles. They delight in the plight of one another. Members in the
body of Christ are no more one but divided. The body is in pain.
The rivalry between Sarah and Hagar terminated the recognition of
Hagar and Ishmael in Abraham’s life. Nothing was heard of both until Abraham’s
death and Ishmael had to come and bury his father. The death of Hagar was not
stated in the Bible. They were lost in the wilderness.
This is the dilemma of victims of polygamous witchcraft.
After ousting Hagar and son, Abraham was left with Sarah and Isaac.
He had no option but to regard Isaac as the only son. The greatest test in
Abraham’s life was when God requested for Isaac for a sacrifice. Sarah was too
protective of Isaac. To the point that Abraham did not tell her God wanted her
son for a sacrifice but sneaked out to carry out the Lord’s instruction. At this
point, he had regarded God as first before Sarah without hurting Sarah.
Genesis 22:16-18 “And said, By myself have I sworn, saith
the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son,
thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will
multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed
shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in
thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast
obeyed my voice.”
To pass God’s test, it is a personal thing; not joint efforts. Your
heart must be totally given to him and it must be tried and tested. Abraham made
a good bargain with God on behalf of his descendants. This bargain is extended
to his children by faith through Jesus.
Since Isaac was a child of covenant, everything about him fell in
pleasant places. In the choice of a wife, it was prophetic. And the servant
carried his ministry under oath of a covenant. In all of his journey to find a
wife for Isaac, he was always mentioning the God of his master, Abraham. He was
under an oath and he recognized the covenant under which his master operated
and he prospered.
Every genuine ministry is established under a particular covenant
struck under a horrifying condition, Genesis 15:12.
Genesis
15:12 “And when the sun was going
down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness
fell upon him.”
Once they remain under that covenant, the ministry prospers. If another
covenant is mixed, problems starts. Many have deviated into the ministry of
mammon. This is the reason many become intimidated when they see one in
prospering in his ministry.
The covenants are different form each other. Each covenant has its
own detailed instructions. Abraham’s was detailed. Ministries are different
from one another based on the divine encounter and place.
The workers under the ministry are under oaths. Once they remain
under oath to the covenant, they will prosper just like Abraham’s servant.
Unfortunately, many who are supposed to be under oath have assumed
their gifts to be a covenant and, therefore, broke the oath to start their
ministries. Such have caused a lot of problems in the body of Christ. They are
usually not stable. They listen to other messages and take them to preach,
claiming ownership. Some use the miracles of other ministries to pass their
messages thereby taking credit for it; spiritual fraud.
Servants under oath find things easy in ministry, while servants
who have broken the oath become problems to the body of Christ.
Is your ministry under oath or out of oath? To remain under oath
is to remain under the blessing of your mentor.
Genesis
24:40 “And
he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee,
and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and
of my father’s house:”
Abraham’s servant remained under oath and here is his testimony,
prompt answer to his prayers.
Genesis
24:45 “And before I had done
speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her
shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.”
May the Lord plant your feet in the place of blessing this year in
the name of Jesus Christ
Keep the fire burning
Supo Abayode
MFM, Delaware, USA