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THE SURROGATE JOURNEY: BIRTHING PURPOSE THROUGH OTHERS.  PART 3: THE WEIGHT OF THE WOMB — WHEN CARRYING GETS COMPLICATED Genesis 16:5–6 Then Sarai said to Abram, ‘You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me.’ Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.” (NIV) šŸ” Quick Recap: In Part 2 , we met Hagar, the Egyptian servant chosen by Sarai to carry her child. Though not her dream, not her plan, and not her baby—she became the carrier of a promise she didn’t initiate. We learned how sometimes we are called to be the “other woman” in someone else’s destiny story—carrying, serving, interceding, and pushing someone else’s dream forward. šŸ¤° The Blessing that Brought Bitterness Hagar became pregnant. She was carrying the long-awaited seed. She should have been celebrated. But instead… she was mistreated. The one who chose her now chased her. The one who needed her now neglected her. The woman...
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HOBAB: PARTNERSHIP, COLLABORATION, AND GUIDE FOR THE JOURNEY PART 3: A GENTLE DECLINE OR A DIVINE DELAY?



HOBAB: PARTNERSHIP, COLLABORATION, AND GUIDE FOR THE JOURNEY
PART 3: A GENTLE DECLINE OR A DIVINE DELAY?


Numbers 10:29-32

Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, his father-in-law, “We are journeying to the place the Lord promised to give us. Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the Lord has spoken good concerning Israel.”

But Hobab replied, “I will not go, but return to my own land and family.”

Then Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. And if you go with us, whatever good the Lord does to us, we will do to you.”



Recap of Part 2: Wisdom Needs a Willing Guide

In Part 2, we saw Moses' persistence in asking Hobab to stay and serve as a guide, even after his initial rejection. It taught us that wisdom and experience, though human, are often God-sent tools. We were reminded that humility allows us to embrace both divine guidance and practical mentorship.


Rejection doesn’t always mean rebellion. When Hobab declined Moses’ invitation with the words, “No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people,” we often assume he was uninterested or unspiritual. But perhaps it was hesitation, not defiance. God’s invitations sometimes arrive at inconvenient times, and our first response isn’t always our final answer.



Not every "no" is permanent. Hobab’s initial decline shows us the human tendency to return to what’s familiar, even when opportunity is knocking. It reflects our struggle with leaving comfort zones, especially when we can't fully see the reward of the unknown.


Moses didn’t shame Hobab. He understood that divine callings often wrestle with personal commitments. Instead of closing the door, Moses appealed again, with grace.



Life Application

Don’t let someone's initial “no” make you give up too quickly—especially if you sense God wants them on your journey. Likewise, if you’re the one being invited into something greater, take time to ask: Am I declining out of fear, comfort, or calling?


Sometimes, God's invitation disrupts our routine. Trust that what He’s calling you into is far better than what you're clinging to.


Hobab’s response teaches us that great journeys often start with hesitation. God gives us the space to wrestle with our decisions—but He also nudges us toward what will ultimately shape our destiny. The right response may not be immediate, but it must eventually be obedient.



REFLECTION

Have you said "no" to an opportunity or a calling simply because it felt inconvenient or uncertain?

How do you respond when others don’t immediately agree to support or join you on a mission God has laid on your heart?




Call to Action

Revisit any decision or opportunity you declined too quickly. Ask God to reveal whether it was a gentle decline or a divine delay. Then, if needed, go back and say “yes” where you once said “no.”



PRAYER

Lord, help me not to fear the unknown. Give me discernment to know when to step out in faith and the humility to revisit closed doors if You’re still knocking. And if I’m the one inviting others into Your plan, help me to be patient and persistent like Moses. Amen.



The Next Part

Have you ever believed someone was meant to walk the journey with you—only for them to say, “No”?

In Part 4, we will dive into the pain and purpose of rejection.


We’ll explore how Moses handled Hobab’s refusal, why some people walk away from divine opportunities, and what it means when their “no” doesn’t change God’s “yes.”



šŸ’¬ Let’s Talk:

Have you ever said “no” to something God may have been calling you to—only to feel nudged again later?


Is there someone in your life you gave up on too quickly because of an initial rejection?


How do you personally discern the difference between a gentle decline and a divine delay?


Let’s talk about what it means to give people (and yourself) the grace to reconsider, and how God often works in the space between “No” and “Not yet.”

Thank you!





Prince Julius Nenebi-Darkson 

(EL-PJ God's penman)





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