Go in to my maid. It was the custom among the people of Mesopotamia, that a barren woman would allow her husband to have a child through her servant. Abram complied with this practice at the suggestion of his wife, but this was not God’s will.

This incident teaches us an important lesson: we should never take shortcuts to solve a problem or speed up a blessing.

It is best to wait for God’s promise to be fulfilled, no matter how long it takes. Many have acted like Sarai. Driven by their emotions, they have made hasty decisions and ignored God’s direction, and suffered terrible consequences!