# 127 A Failure To Communicate

The Book of Genesis Day 127 Ge 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. To quote one of my all-time favorite movie lines (From Cool Hand Luke) “What we have here, is a failure to communicate.” We just read about this elaborate covenant that Abram and God had finalized a covenant that promised descendants to Abram but evidently, Abram hadn’t clued Sarai in on the matter. Sarai, has a deep longing for children, but her biological clock has ticked past the time for childbearing, and so she decides to run the idea of surrogate parenting past Abram. This was a popular practice in the culture they lived in. My Lutheran Study Bible comments on this practice this way, “The OT saints sometimes obtained children through means that the Holy Scripture describes but does not advocate. However they were recognized legal practices of the day and shared some of the same benefits and complications realized in today’s fertility options.”In other words, just because the world is doing it, doesn’t make it right! Proceed with great caution! Do the benefits outweigh the complications? Some of today’s fertility options result in the death of unborn children! Some result in us humans attempting to play God in the creation of life, and some, well some, can get a little messy as Sarai and Hagar are about to find out. I think it’s telling here, that we don’t read of Sarai taking here barrenness to God, (as Hannah did in 1 Samuel) she brings the problem to Abram. “Hey Abram, I want some kids,” since God isn’t granting me any, why don’t we go the surrogate parenting route like so many others do in our world today?” Does Abram protest? Does he bother telling Sarai, “Hey God and I just made a covenant and HE assured me we will have children the old fashioned way!” Nope! He doesn’t make one squeak of protest; he “heeded the voice of Sarai.” (Sounds like Adam in the garden doesn’t it?)This whole mess may have been avoided if Abram would’ve communicated to Sarai what God was speaking into their lives. Does that sound like something that has happened in your marriage? Was Sarai supposed to guess what God and Abram were up to? Did Abram give in too soon in order to keep peace in the family? Would Sarai just laugh (probably, see Gen 18:12) at the whole idea and Abram thought he should just keep this to himself? Men and women! In marriage, God has made you one! Communicate with each other on the basis of that fact! Talk to your spouses, especially about the things God is speaking to you in His holy Word! Yes, what we had here was a failure to communicate, and what we wound up with was one big mess! Pray: Lord, help us to share with our spouse those things that You are laying on our hearts! These are things that can help us to trust Jesus together, believe in Jesus together, rejoice in Jesus together, and take comfort in Jesus together