Why did Abraham listen to Sarah and have a child with Hagar?
Abraham listened because God’s promise appeared delayed: roughly fifty years passed with nothing happening, and he looked at circumstances rather than continuing to trust. He concluded God was not acting, so he followed Sarah’s suggestion and had a child by her slave girl, Ishmael, before God fulfilled the promise at age 100.
Les teaches that Abraham had waited a long time for God’s promise. His promises began back in Ur when he was probably about 50, he did not leave Haran until 75, and he did not receive Ishmael until near 80. By the time God performed and the promise was fulfilled, Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90. Les explains that Abraham had almost 50 years to “sweat the promises” while nothing happened. Looking at the circumstances, Les says he cannot blame Abraham for listening to Sarah and having a child by a slave girl, because it seemed God wasn’t doing anything. Les applies this to us: in a fast-paced culture it is easy to lose faith and ask, “Where is God?” or “God, You’re not doing anything.” But God works slowly and surely; after 50 years of promises, the child came.