# 132 The Rewards of Submission

The Book of Genesis Day 132 Ge 16:9 The Angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand." 10 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude." This won’t be easy for Hagar to do! She is going to have to eat a lot of crow and come crawling back to Abram and Sarai. More harsh treatment from Sarai likely and maybe even some legal ramifications. She’s going to have to go back and face the music. Not only has the Lord ordered her to return to her harsh mistress, but He also tells her she must submit! But, the angel of the Lord gives her an incentive and some hope as he passes on a blessing concerning her progeny. Hagar will be blessed with many descendants! You know, there are people who have been placed in authority over us, and sometimes it’s not easy to submit to them either, yet God has some incentives for those willing to submit as well! In Eph 6:2 we read, "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: 3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." And in Col 3:20, we see that submission to our parents is pleasing to God! “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” Bondservants, or we might say workers, are encouraged to obey and submit to their masters in all things with a promise of reward as we read in Col 3:22-24, Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Sometimes we spend so much time complaining about our work or family situation that we miss the blessing! Or sometimes, we pine away our time seeking ways to serve the Lord, and here we have one right under our nose! This passage in Colossians tells us we can serve the Lord by simply putting in a God-honoring day at work! And here’s another one, especially for wives of unbelieving husbands: 1Pe 3:1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. But, here’s the best reward of all for submitting to authority. Jas 4:6b,7 says, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. How about that? Grace given to those who submit! In submitting to God, we resist the devil and he flees! I know it’s not always easy, but submission to authority brings God into the mix with His divine influence (grace) applied to the situation. What more could we possibly ask for? Pray: Lord help me today, in all opportunities I have to joyfully submit to those you have put in authority over me, knowing and believing that there is no authority except that which You have established