Who Would Be Abraham's Heir?

Despite promises of a seed, Sarah remained barren. Abraham presented the matter to God. Would his servant Eliezer inherit all that he owned?  No, for Jehovah said:  "This man will not succeed you as heir, but one who will come out of your own inward parts will succeed you as heir." -Genesis 15:1-4.

Still there was no child, and 75-year -old Sarah despaired of conceiving. Hence, she said to Abraham:  "Jehovah has shut me off from bearing children. Please, have relations with my maidservant. Perhaps I may get children from her."  Abraham then took Hagar  as a secondary wife, had relations with her, and she became pregnant. As soon as Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she  began to despise her mistress. Sarah complained bitterly to Abraham and humiliated Hagar, causing the maidservant to flee. -Genesis 16:1-6. 

Abraham and Sarah acted in good faith, adopting a course that accorded with accepted practices of their day. However, it was not Jehovah's way of producing Abraham's seed. Our culture might dictate that certain actions are right under various circumstances, but this does not necessarily mean that Jehovah agrees. His view of our situation might be entirely different. Hence, we need to seek God's direction, praying that he indicate the way he wants us to act. -Psalm 25:4, 5; 143:8, 10. 

Next time: Nothing Is "Too Extraordinary for Jehovah"

From the Watchtower magazine, 2004