Have you ever tried to fix something but you only made the situation worse? You put in the effort, but the outcome was far from ideal. As a result, you created an entanglement. Everything was mixed up and nothing was in the right place. Therefore, a mess was all you saw.
The Story: Genesis 16:1-6
In Genesis 16:1-16, Sarai told Abram to sleep with her maid, Hagar, because she hadn’t given her husband a child. Abram honored his wife’s request. As a result, Hagar conceived a child. Because of Sarai’s condition, Hagar began to look down on Sarai’s infertility. Sarai was distressed by how Hagar treated her and brought her complaint to her husband. Abram told Sarai to handle the situation as she saw fit. Therefore, Sarai treated Hagar harshly and she fled.
The Lesson
In Genesis 15, God told Abram that he would have a son. The passage of time and the absence of a child led Sarai to believe that God needed her help. Unfortunately, she created an entanglement. She surveyed the situation and devised an alternate plan, but didn’t consider the ramifications of her actions.
How often are we like Sarai? No, our entanglements don’t always involve relationships, but they still exist. We see a problem and endeavor to solve the matter with the limitations of our minds. However, when things don’t go as planned, we wonder how things ended up so badly. Despite our desire to solve all problems, we understand that we don’t know everything. As a result, our best intentions can lead to an entanglement. However, we don’t need to remain there.
- Remain free from entanglements. Galatians 5:1 reminds us that entanglements lead to bondage. We can devise a plan, but we don’t know how all the pieces will fit together. This lack of knowledge creates problems for all involved.
- We’re limited. Although we can do amazing things, we’re not a one-person show. Therefore, we benefit from the advice of Proverbs 3:5-6. We shipwreck our lives and others when we rely on only ourselves. Therefore, we need additional assistance.
- Time isn’t our friend or foe. The existence of time offers the opportunity to accomplish our goals. However, the passage of time creates impatience, which leads to entanglements. However, seeking God allows time to work in our favor. Isaiah 40:31 reveals that in waiting on God, we have renewed strength. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us that we don’t need to be anxious for the peace of God that is available to us.
Therefore, we can add to the lesson from the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare. “Slow and steady wins the race” and prevents entanglements.
