That scenario was the backdrop facing hip-hop icons Common and Lauryn Hill in the thought-provoking 1990s hip-hop classic, "Retrospect for Life."
A smooth, soulful song, "Retrospect for Life" does a masterful job portraying the options couples face in an unexpected pregnancy. The lingering question throughout the song is whether the characters portrayed by Common and Lauryn Hill can work together for the benefit of a child.
Or, as Common asks, will it be a relationship filled with baby mama drama?
And while the topic of "baby mama drama" is a source of fascination for at least one talk show and its viewers, it's actually as old as the book of Genesis.
Nothing's new under the sun.
In Genesis, God reveals himself to a man named Abraham as a covenant-keeping God. Genesis 15 ends with God making a covenant with Abraham and promising Him a great number of offspring.
When Abraham and Sarah don't see the promised fulfilled quick enough, they did exactly what you and I tend to do. They tried to make God's promise to them come to pass in their own power (more on that in just a second). Genesis 16 begins with Sarah telling her husband to get her servant Hagar pregnant.
Uhm, yeah. Not a great idea.
Not only did this move not fulfill God's promise, but it created a whole lot of baby mama drama. Sarah starts to resent Hagar, and Hagar seems to feel superior to Sarah after bearing Abraham a child. When God does bless Sarah with a child, there's also beef between Abraham's two sons.
Yep. Drama.
Just like baby mama drama isn't new, God's people doubting God's word isn't new either. In fact, mankind's rebellion against God is a direct result of the first couple not taking God at his word. The pattern of Abraham and Sarah is one we recognize in our own lives.
- First, we doubt God's word and God's character.
- Second, we take matters into our own hands.
- Third, we end up with a huge mess.
What do we do when recognize this pattern? Meditating on the gospel is a good place to start.
The gospel is the good news about God's redemptive work in mankind through the person and work of Jesus Christ. In the cross, we see the trustworthiness of God on full display. God goes to amazing lengths - making sacrifices that you and I wouldn't dream of making - to keep His promise to rescue humanity.
Because of this amazing news, a church-persecutor turned church-planter named Paul stated an amazing truth to the church in Rome.
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? - Romans 8:32
If we trust our covenant-keeping God to save us, we can also trust Him to keep us. I'm in a season of transition, where lots of things are uncertain. The great comfort in this is knowing that God's promises are certain.
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him (Jesus Christ). That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. II Corinthians 1:20
What about you? What is your best story about trusting God or trying to take matters into your own hands?
(Note: While I can affirm this song, I can not affirm the full catalog of either artist as consistent with scripture.)
Chris Lassiter is a husband and father of five beautiful kids. He has written for The News Leader, HipHopDX.com, VIBE, Hard Magazine, Rapzilla.com and Young Life Relationships. He is the author of You're Grounded, which you can read about here.
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