Wayfinding Bible - Flipbook - Page 33
27
Genesis 16
PG 28
PG 28
OBSERVATION POINT
EXPLORATION POINT
Childless for ten years after God’s promise, Sarai
resorted to the local custom—using a surrogate. In
the ancient Near East, childless women commonly
allowed their husbands to conceive a child with one
of their slave girls. Sarai had the legal right to claim
any child who was conceived and born in this way as
her own. If the child was a male, the husband could
officially adopt the boy by merely stating “You are
my son” in the presence of the surrogate mother.
Sarai’s solution was sanctioned by standard social
customs and law, but not by God.
When God makes a promise, he will come through
on it. Like Sarai, we too often become impatient
and decide to “help God out,” only to mess things
up and make our lives more complicated. It’s hard
to be patient when God’s timing does not follow our
timetable. God has a place and purpose for each one
of us. We are here to bring him glory and to further
his Kingdom. Trust that God’s plan is bigger than
you can imagine.
ABRAHAM’S DESCENDANTS
TERAH
HARAN
ABRAHAM
HAGAR
NAHOR
SARAH
LOT
MILCAH
ISCAH
BETHUEL
ISHMAEL
ISAAC
LABAN
REBEKAH
MUHAMMAD
ESAU
ZILPAH
JACOB
LEAH
BILHAH
RACHEL
7
5
1
3
9
11
GAD
DAN
REUBEN
LEVI
ISSACHAR
JOSEPH
8
ASHER
6
NAPHTALI
2
SIMEON
4
JUDAH
10
ZEBULUN
DINAH
Solid lines indicate direct descendants.
Dashed lines indicate generations between.
Dotted lines indicate marriage.
JESUS
12
BENJAMIN
Gen 17:4-7
God would fulfill his promises to Abraham
through many of the lives of Abraham’s
descendants. The Bible records God’s work
by telling their stories.
