The God Project Calculator: Ishmael or Isaac?

Have you ever found yourself wondering if the work or project you are doing is in God's will or not?

While there is not an absolute, sure fire way to make that determination, this Trail has been designed to help you answer that question.

Let’s begin by describing a project or endeavor you are currently undertaking that you are doing for the Lord.

Write your answer in the space provided.

Read Genesis 15: 1-6:

"After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward.”
But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness."

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Given that Abram's wife Sarai was barren and well past her child bearing years (she was in her 80's at the time), God's promises seem completely out of reach, if not impossible.

From a common sense perspective, wouldn't you agree?

Now read Genesis 16:1-5:

"Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived."

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Abram, who had believed the Lord in Chapter 15, has now agreed to a way of fulfilling God's promises that made perfect sense, but was not part of God's will, namely, to conceive an heir through a woman other than his aged and barren wife.

Placing yourself in Abram's position, how easy would it have been to agree to Sarai's suggestion?

Go to 'DOCUMENTS' and read Oswald Chambers observations on these verses in Genesis.

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Oswald states:

"Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen. There is a “darkness” that comes from too much light— that is the time to listen. The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light."

Concerning God's vision, how frequently have you been guilty of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness?

Oswald adds:

"When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word."

Do you agree?

Oswald continues:

"Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure."

Regarding God's promises, are you going through a similar time?

If so, describe what you are going through and how God might be using it to strengthen and discipline you.

Oswald observes:

"There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10-11)."

How often have you encountered well-intended Christians who try to convince you that this period of waiting should be one of joy and confidence, when clearly it is not?

Oswald asks:

"Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings?

How would you answer these questions?

Oswald concludes:

"The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God."

Abram agrees with Sarai's realistic, common sense approach to have his heir through Hagar, her servant. Hagar then gives birth to Ishmael.

Soon after, Sarai fulfills God's promise and miraculously gives birth to Isaac, just as God had promised.

Now, are you ready to ask God to reveal to you if your current project is in His will? Is it an 'Ishmael' or an 'Issac'?

Get quiet.

When you are ready ask the living God to speak to you about the project or endeavor you listed in Step 2.

If you wish, you can write down what you receive in the space provided.

If you did not receive anything, are you willing to continue to pursue God for an answer before you decide to continue with the project?

(Note: this Trail is now in your library and can be scheduled as often as you like until you receive an answer.)

If God did reveal something to you, are you willing to act on it?

Is there anything you would like to praise God for?

If so, you can do privately or in the space provided.

How much has this Trail helped you to determine if your project or endeavor is in God’s will?