#successor – Boldly For Him

He’s an old man desperate for an heir. Weary from the wait of a long-promised legacy, Abram finds himself questioning God. “Could it really be that this Eliezer of Damascus, a servant born in his own household would now be his heir…..?” The reply of The Lord takes him by surprise!

Genesis 15:4-5 (AMP);

“And behold, the Word of The Lord came to him, saying, This man shall not be your heir, but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir.” “And He brought him outside [his tent into the starlight] and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars—if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be.”

As these words echoed through his thoughts, the memory of The Lord’s recent visit still fresh in his mind, he stares at the beautiful face of the frustrated woman in front of him. Abram wished he had the courage to overcome the fear that kept him from telling his wife about the Blood Covenant that The Lord had just made with him. Yet he knew that Sarai had been pushed beyond her ability to trust him, after all, it was his idea to have her lie to Pharaoh and the rest of the Egyptians in order to spare his life. A decision that almost cost their marriage! With that integrity now violated, Sarai’s heart could no longer hold the pressure of unresolved hurts, anger and a lifeless womb. The bitterness that drove the following irrational suggestion from her heart through her lips, would forever change the course of history and the lives of those closest to her!

Genesis 16:1-2 (AMP);

“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar.” “And Sarai said to Abram, See here, The Lord has restrained me from bearing (children). I am asking you to have intercourse with my maid; it may be that I can obtain children by her. And Abram listened to and heeded what Sarai said.”

Completely distracted from the Covenant that The Lord just made with him, Abram embraces the alternative of Sarai’s suggestion and agrees to have intercourse with Hagar for an heir. The result….?… Surrogate Nation!” The Substitution of God’s Covenant plan through Abram in exchange for the works of his hands. In modern New Testament terms, “A Substitute for Jesus Christ” has just been conceived!

In order to clearly understand the meaning of what God is wanting us to learn through this passage of scripture, I am going to share with you the definition of each word in the term, “Surrogate Christianity.”

Surrogate =
: to appoint a successor, deputy, or substitute for oneself
: SUBSTITUTE

Christianity =
a): the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred
scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic, and Protestant
bodies
b): conformity to the Christian Religion
c): the practice of Christianity

* Above references are from Merriam-Webster.com

The enemy of our soul has a goal and that is to get us to, “mourn for what we haven’t lost.” He does this by having us view long-awaited, yet to be fulfilled, promises of God for our life through, “The Eyes of Grief.” If he is successful, he knows that we will do exactly what Abram and Sarai did. Take matters into our own hands through “Substitution” and birth an “Ishmael.”

It is the “Ishmael” the “Substitutions” for God’s Promises that we birth that often causes us the most grief and sorrow in our lives. Now is a good moment my friend to see where we are in the birthing process of our Covenant Promises from God. Let’s ask ourselves the following questions:

What specific Covenant Promise of God have I been waiting for the longest?
Have I begun to view that Covenant Promise through, “The Eyes of Grief?”
Am I taking matters into my own hands?

No matter how we answer the above questions, we can be encouraged with this truth, that though we may have birthed an “Ishmael”, there is undoubtedly an “Isaac”, the fulfillment of God’s Covenant Promise in our future! How do I know that this is true? The Bible tells me so! Let’s read Genesis 17:19 (AMP) together;

“But God said, Sarah, your wife shall bear you a son indeed, and you shall call his name Isaac [laughter]; and I will establish My covenant or solemn pledge with him for an Everlasting Covenant and with his posterity after him.”

This same Covenant is now Our Covenant through Jesus Christ! No matter how many “Ishmaels” we have birthed in our life, God has our, “Isaacs” waiting for us! His Covenant with us can never be revoked because the Blood of His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, has ratified that Covenant at Calvary Forever!

This is our time my friend to Go Forth and Birth our “Isaacs” Boldly For Him!

Photo by Cristian Newman