A Multiplied Miracle

Based on Genesis 20-22, Matthew 6:19-34

When we ask God for something, we don't want Him to hold back. We want to see all God has in store for us. It's always easy on the receiving end, but how about the giving end? If God always gives His best, we should too! Multiplied miracles come if we don't have a fear to sacrifice. When we don't withhold anything from God, the miracle we receive will bear more fruit than we could ever imagine! What we get might just be greater than what we have if we are not afraid to give it to God!

Sarah, Abraham's wife, told Abraham to dismiss her maid Hagar and her son Ishmael. Although Ishmael was also Abraham's son, he was not the promised child God had given to Sarah and Abraham. But God did not forget Hagar, or her son. Her son was still of the seed of Abraham, and God never goes back on His Word! Ishmael would also be a great nation, even distanced away from Abraham:

"And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation." Genesis 21:17‭-‬18.

As hard as it was, Hagar obeyed what she was told to do by Abraham. She left with Ishmael, and in her anguish, God her the cry of her son, and her cry as well. Out of that difficult experience, that sacrifice of all they ever knew, came the promise of abundant generations of life on the other side! Not just a miracle, a multiplied miracle!

Multiplied miracles happen at times of multiplied sacrifice-in choosing to obey God even when it's difficult or confusing. Remember, there's always a purpose! This was the situation not only with Hagar & Ishmael, but with Abraham & his son Isaac. Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his promised son. Painfully, yet not resistantly, Abraham obeyed...and God came through!

"And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." Genesis 22:11‭-‬12.

We can't hold back from God, Moms! We may be holding back multiplied miracles! Abraham did not withhold his son, and God provided another sacrifice. In providing another sacrifice, He also re-confirmed the promise of protection upon the seed of Abraham and many generations to come! What great faith! What a multiplied miracle!

"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:31-33.

Everything else will come in time when WE make time for God! If WE pursue His perfect, righteous Will & we don't look back, then we can look forward to many multiplied miracles to come!