Have you ever noticed that there is no account of God warning Eve about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, nor is there a record of Him relaying His promise to Hagar? Adam and Abraham are two pivotal figures who received divine messages from the Lord. To me, this places responsibility on them to pass on the message they received from God.
The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” Genesis 2:15-17 NLT
But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.” Genesis 21:12-13 NLT
I’m not here to mar anyone’s perception of how these patriarchs handled their personal lives. I’m simply making observations. I desire to discern how to apply the lessons I’m learning wisely. And, in turn, pass along what I hear from the Holy Spirit as accurately as possible.
Pass On the Message
Miscommunication, secondhand information, or failing to relay God’s warnings and promises correctly has consequences. Some consequences are dire, and some are dreadful. I’m grateful that we have access to the Bible and can take in God’s word for ourselves. When we get our information solely from other people, YouTube videos, or the news, we open ourselves up to attacks from the enemy, despair, and disillusionment.
Eve and Hagar were solely responsible for their actions and personal relationships with God, but Adam and Abraham were responsible for how or if they communicated His word to them.
I’ve heard preaching about how Eve distorted God’s Word, but not about whether or not Adam may have distorted it as he told it to her. Check Genesis chapter two; Eve wasn’t created when God warned Adam about the tree. I’ve heard preaching about Hagar’s despair in the desert, but not about Abraham’s failure to send her off with the message that God had a plan for Ishmael.
God Makes No Mistakes
I wholeheartedly believe in God’s inerrant Word. Our Almighty God makes no mistakes, but let’s face it, His children, myself included, make them daily. We must be careful with how we handle the sacred writings of God. We must always listen, question, speak, and write with great care, because consequences are attached to our choices. Now more than ever Christians are under scrutiny for their actions. How we pass on the message using His word matters. Our children and grandchildren are watching, listening, and learning from our behavior. That makes me pause, pray, and proceed with caution as I share my faith. Pray for me as I pray for you, that we share God’s word accurately, to those in our sphere of influence. And may it all be done for His honor and glory.
*For those of you who prayer walk, ponder how you pass on messages to others.