Woman symbolically deciding which path to take, her own way or God's way.

Sarah and Hagar: The Consequences of Our Way vs. God’s Way

Do you ever try to control God’s plans for your life instead of trusting him to do what is best?

God had promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation. The only problem was that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, couldn’t have kids. In those days, infertility was thought to be the ultimate curse, and Sarah was running out of time. As she got older, Sarah became more and more desperate to provide a child for her husband, so one day she decided to take matters into her own hands. Imitating the cultural practices of the nations around her, Sarah gave her maid Hagar to her husband as a kind of substitute wife and surrogate mother. Abraham showed his desperation as well and went along with the plan instead of trusting God to do things his way. Sure enough, Hagar became pregnant.

You can imagine the tension in the household at that point. Not surprisingly, Sarah grew jealous of Hagar despite the fact that the whole thing was Sarah’s idea in the first place. Sarah began to make Hagar’s life miserable, and Hagar responded by running away. Only an angel from God was able to convince her to return.

Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, and Abraham finally had his heir. However, things got messy a little more than a decade later when Sarah herself finally became pregnant. When Sarah gave birth to Isaac, the tension between her and Hagar increased. Rather than taking steps to ease the tension, Sarah pressured Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away from their home. But even that didn’t quell the family feud — a feud that has continued to fester for thousands of years. This historical event is still a main point of contention today between the boys’ descendants, the Arabs (Ishmael) and the Israelites (Isaac).

Lessons for Us Today

This story is not a fairy tale; the domestic war that was waging between Hagar and Sarah really happened and has implications for your life as well.

One of the biggest lessons here is understanding how different everything would have turned out had Abraham and Sarah simply trusted God without taking things into their own hands. God doesn’t need our help. Our job is to trust him to carry out his plan in his way, according to his timetable.

Another lesson can be found in how Abraham responded. God made a promise to Abraham, and Abraham knew it; however, Abraham still went along with Sarah’s plans and did not speak up about the promise God had made. Rather than standing up for the truth, Abraham passively sat back and let his wife and her servant fight it out. Learn from Abraham’s mistake. Stand up for what you know is true.

It’s normal to struggle with giving up control to God — people of all ages wrestle with this, as Abraham and Sarah show us. At the end of the story, though, God did exactly what he said he was going to do.

Drawn from the NIV Revolution Bible.

51 comments

  1. John bii says:

    I am so grateful for this insight. It is so enlightening and encouraging. We should keep trusting in God no matter what!

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    1. Jermainian says:

      I’m so thankful for this insight. I have a hard time waiting on the Lord for answers, help and guidance. It seems like it takes forever to get my prayers answered. God knows what we’re dealing with and if we just pray, ask and believe, in due time we will receive what we need from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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      1. Francis A A Bockarie says:

        This is very enlightening. Oh, how I’ve prayed that grace will empower me to wait on his divine plan. Powerful lesson!

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    2. Marble says:

      Wow! I learned something new.

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    3. Ogar Patrick says:

      Yes, as for me, I will keep trust in God at all times.

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  2. Creio Sim says:

    Your article is amazing! The way you explained the story of Sarah and Hagar and highlighted the importance of trusting God’s plans was exceptional. Your insights are profound and very relevant for today. Congratulations on the excellent work!

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    1. Sibusiso Mthabela says:

      Thank you for the encouragement. Indeed God’s plan is true. Waiting in the lord brings peace.

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    2. Paulus Abraham says:

      This story is very educative and interesting and I believe that when we keep on trusting God ways, then there is nothing that will fail in our lives. All we need is to trust Him in the process and surely we will bear fruit at the right appointed time. God bless you NIV team!🙏🙏

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    3. Ally says:

      I’ll learn to let God handle things his own ways…. I trust you Lord for you know the best for me.

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    4. Joseph Bogrebon says:

      This is very insightful. I have understood the story between Ishmael and Isaac. I also now understand the origins of the tension in the Middle East.

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  3. Tabaa says:

    Thank you for this reminder. It is God’s plan and his timing. The more we try to force and change the situation, the more negativity we invite into our lives. We just need to trust God.

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  4. I just read this in it’s entirety. It’s so true how often we take things into our own hands and do not wait on GOD. It’s a good thing that GOD IS A FORGIVING GOD.

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    1. Ogar Patrick says:

      It’s good to trust God with everything. Without him, we can do nothing.

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    2. Ogar Patrick says:

      Yes, He is a forgiving God. But let’s wait for him in everything.

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  5. Vicky Patrick says:

    I felt this is the Word of GOD. Every moment of our life we need to give it to GOD and he will make it right. Psalms 91

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  6. Debetrish G says:

    I needed to read this. I am so impatient and when things don’t happen in my time I start trying to figure things out my way! I have to learn how to trust God in the things I pray for. Thank you for sharing this word! 🙏🏾

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    1. Ogar Patrick says:

      It’s good to trust in God for everything. Without him, we can do nothing.

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  7. Victoria says:

    The story of Abraham and Sarah is a good reminder that we must keep trusting God, even though we are not seeing anything happening right away. God has our best interest at heart. Thank you for that reminder.

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  8. Huruma kalugi says:

    This word is perfect and it is building my faith. Thank you so much. What is the Bible verse where I can read this story?

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    1. NIV Bible says:

      You can read about the story of Sarah and Hagar in Genesis 16:1–16; 17:18–26; 21:1–21.

  9. Shelva Sims says:

    Amen 🙌🏾🙏🏾💜

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  10. Beatrice Nkrumah says:

    I am grateful for this word.

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  11. Cyrus Ngugi says:

    Very encouraging.

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  12. I am helped by this explanation.

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  13. Shazia Barkat Benedict says:

    We should wait for the perfect plans of God.

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    1. Ogar Patrick says:

      Yes, very good

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  14. Relebohile says:

    God’s way is always the way. Impatience gets the best of us but we ought to always remember God’s promises because he does what he says he will do. 🙌🏽🙏🏽

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  15. Queen Hadassah says:

    God, I need Your direction.

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    1. Ogar Patrick says:

      This is what I need in my life.

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  16. Mayra says:

    It’s amazing how God speaks at the right time. We struggle with trusting Him no matter what situation we find ourselves. But know that His still small voice is guiding us. He will give us the answer we need. We just need to be patience and know that He’s listening to our prayers. So keep praying, keep speaking and questioning because God will hear and respond to those who are desperately seeking after HIM.

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    1. Ogar Patrick says:

      Jeremiah 17:7 – Blessed in the one who trusts in the Lord.

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  17. grace says:

    Thank you for the message right in time.

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  18. Marcquila says:

    Stand up for what you know is true! I love the ending of that!

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  19. Onyebuchi says:

    I felt I relegated God’s plan for me while I was choosing my career. Since then I have been trying to get results. Please God be merciful to me and give me a second chance.

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    1. Ogar Patrick says:

      When we pray we need to ask God for mercy.

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  20. Harriet Chiseya says:

    Thank you so much for the powerful encouragement. I am grateful and thankful.

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  21. Anna says:

    Without faith it is impossible to please our God. So help me Lord to abide by your Word ONLY.

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  22. Emmanuel P. Contino says:

    I had a back operation on December 13, 2023. It went bad and I’ve had constant nerve pain since. I trust in God. I have faith in God. He created me and knows my body better than any doctor. My plan would be immediate and complete healing. Since God has not planned to heal me immediately, there must be a reason why. Please pray for me to bear this constant pain and let God do it in His time.

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    1. Kimo says:

      Praying for you, Brother Emmanuel!

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  23. Tebogo says:

    In the events of life it is important to trust God.

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  24. Liberty Fwa says:

    God’s timing is the best. We should keep trusting in him. He never fails.

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  25. Sebudde izo says:

    This is a very good reading. It applies to our daily lives so well. I have been struggling financially since COVID and have been praying and fasting. This story has encouraged me and opened my mind. Thank you for sharing.🤝❤👌

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  26. NATUKUNDA BRIDGET says:

    I believe and I have faith that there is nothing which happens that God doesn’t know about. In this insight God was testing Abraham and Sarah’s patience but they ran out of it. Being patient for something you know that it will be true is very important.

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    1. Joyce Gladys Ayot says:

      I surrender my ways to God, as I read this true life changing message. It’s a lesson that we need to trust God more in everything and above all learn to be patient as we pray. The grace of God is sufficient enough to carry us anything.

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  27. ambrose omondi says:

    We need the spirit of God that will help us remain focused on the promises of God. This has been so encouraging.

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  28. Juliet says:

    God’s timing is the best. I have learned that having faith and trusting God is the only way for a peaceful and happy life.

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  29. Faye says:

    We have to let our faith outweigh our impatience. God never said it would be easy. Just trust and believe in Him.

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  30. I will trust God and listen to his word before what a person would suggest I do. Thank you for this article. I was blessed by it.

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  31. Kennedy says:

    Those who trust in the Lord are like mount Zion which cannot be moved but endures forever.

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  32. CAPTAIN BULEMU EZRA says:

    Thanks for this lesson. It gives me more courage and strength to depend on God who has kept his promises even when I try to do things my way.

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  33. Bridget Mwase says:

    Thanks for this revelation and indeed it’s what is happening in our life. We choose to fight alone in our battles, not knowing that God has the a plan for us. So help me Lord, to trust in you.

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