Submitting When You Have Been Wronged
The idea of submission is a scary concept for most of us, but it is a very real part of life. Most every relationship that you will ever have will require some form of submission at some point. It might be in relation to your parents, your supervisor or an organization that you participate in. In whatever capacity, use this as preparation for marriage. Submitting is the process of laying down your rights and relinquishing your will for that of somebody else. Submission God’s way will bless you and protect you.
Your blessing is always attached to your submission because when you are fully submitted you are walking in obedience to God. Sometimes it is difficult to submit because you may feel that the person God is calling you to submit to is wrong, and you are right. However, submission is not always predicated upon your belief that a person is right or wrong. It is based on your belief that God commanded it, and God never calls us to do something that won’t ultimately be for our good. Sometimes we may be right but still have to submit because a person is in authority over us. It is in those moments where we must learn to lay down our rights. We may feel that our viewpoint is the correct one and that we were wronged in the situation; however, this doesn’t change Gods instruction to us.
Hagar experienced this firsthand in Genesis 16:7-14. Her mistress, Sarai, was unable to bear children and decided that her husband Abram should sleep with her servant Hagar in order to have a baby. Well Abram did as Sarai, his wife, instructed. Hagar became pregnant and had a child and suddenly Sarai was upset. Hagar then fled to the wilderness where the angel of the lord met her. He said to her “Return to your mistress and submit yourself under her hand,” fortunately Hagar obeyed. If Hagar had not listened, not only would she have been disobedient to God, but also to her mistress because she left without permission. The passage continues and the angel said to Hagar, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for the multitude.” This is the blessing that was attached to her submission. Even though Hagar had done exactly what Sarai asked she was still dealt with harshly and had to submit to Hagar. However, for her willingness to submit, God promised her that he would still multiply her exceedingly. Additionally, Hagar’s covering was also tied to her obedience. In the wilderness she was alone and unprotected; she had no home and no job. Thus, in many ways it was in her best interest to return home. Hagar shows us that God will always cover you where he called you and that our best protection is in his will.
Oftentimes we allow our flesh to get in the way. We decide that we are right and no one will treat us rudely, or that we won’t accept certain things from certain people. The cost of disobedience is high. You don't know what you are sacrificing by not being obedient. Learn to lay down your rights, and know that if you are truly wronged God will take care of you. God called us to be righteous not right. In every situation seek God as to what you should do, because what may seem right to you through the eyes of the flesh may not be righteous in the eyes of the Savior.