The Portrait of a Right Exit | Charis Christian Church, Pretoria

We examined the portrait of a wrong exit in the way Hagar left the household of Abram because of the mistreatment of Sarai. Yet in spite of Hagar’s trying circumstances, the angel told her, “…Go back to your mistress and humbly submit to her control.” Why? Because the principle is not about mistreatment. It’s about placement. You have to be mindful of your place. The issue was not about Sarai. It was about her “place.” With Hagar, the household of Abram was where she was called to serve. Hagar’s lack of knowledge of this caused her to take a wrong exit and flee from the very place and people of harvest in her life. But in Genesis chapter twenty-one, the Bible gives us a portrait of the correct way to exit a relationship, church, ministry, job, or business.

For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
Genesis 21:2, 9-10

In Genesis chapter twenty-one, the Bible gives us the right portrait of exiting a relationship, church, ministry, job, or business. Unlike the previous portrait where Hagar ran away, here she had to be released or asked to leave by her leader, Sarah. In Genesis 21, Isaac is conceived and born. The child Isaac grew, and on the day he was weaned Abraham had a great celebration for him. But then the Bible records that Ishmael mocked Isaac. Ishmael is a type of the flesh and Isaac is a type of the Spirit. Isaac is the child of promise, while Ishmael is the child of desire. The flesh will always mock the spirit. A wrong exit is a desire of the flesh and a right exit is a demand of the Spirit. As people of the Spirit, our desire must always be to exit right so that we may enter into the next phase right. The Bible says that Sarah, Hagar’s direct leader, said it was time for Hagar to leave. Notice this time it wasn’t Hagar demanding to leave, but it was her leader wanting her to leave. In fact, the Scripture says that Sarah said unto Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son….” Although Abraham was grieved about Hagar’s departure, God said “…in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice….” Hagar exited right this time.

The Principles of Exiting Right

The first principle or sign of a right exit is when Isaac has been born, weaned, and celebrated in Abraham’s house. In Genesis 21 Isaac, who is the fulfillment of Abraham’s vision and dream, is conceived and born. The child Isaac grew and Abraham had a great celebration for him the day he was weaned. Never exit a church or ministry when Isaac is conceived. If you must exit, let it be when the church or your leader’s vision has been fulfilled and has come into fruition. Don’t exit when things are bad or in their worst condition. Notice it was only after Isaac was conceived, weaned, and celebrated that Hagar could properly exit. A premature departure constitutes a wrong exit. Observe that Elisha exited Elijah’s life and ministry when Elijah’s vision and assignment had been fulfilled and completed. Similarly Ephesians 6:8 says what you make happen for someone, God will make happen for you. So in making sure that the vision and dream of the place you have been connected to are unlocked and fulfilled, you in turn unlock your vision and dream. Even at this stage, your exit or departure must be by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The second principle is when the Spirit of the Lord does the leading. God leads us, but the devil drives us. The enemy pushes us out of the right places and ordained relationships in our lives. If you must leave, the Spirit of God must always be the foundation and reason for your exit. You cannot exit because you are upset or bitter. The Spirit of God must lead you out so that you can properly enter into the next phase of your destiny. The Scripture says that even though Abraham was grieved because of his son having to depart, God told Abraham to hearken to the voice of Sarah and allow them to leave. In other words, this is the portrait of a right exit because the Spirit of God approved their departure. This is how it must be with us when we endeavor to exit a relationship, ministry, church, or business. Exiting right enables you to properly enter into the next phase of your destiny. When these principles are truly honored in your life, God’s divine favor will remain operative in the fulfillment of your life and destiny.