relationships (Genesis 21:1-21) Have Compassion

(Genesis 21:1-21)  Then the Lord took note of Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised. 2 So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. 4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

8 The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

9 Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.” 11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. 13 And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.” 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15 When the water in the skin was used up, she left the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.” And she sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice and wept. 17 God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” 19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink.

20 God was with the lad, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness and became an archer. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

We can observe several family dynamics in this chapter.  There was great joy when Isaac was born to Sarah and Abraham.   I find it interesting that Sarah laughed with skepticism when she heard she would have a baby at 99 years of age, but now she laughed with joy, saying God has made her laugh.  Although, their sin from the past became an issue again as Sarah feared Hagar's son.  Ishmael was still a child, but what would he be capable of when he got older?  And would he fight to gain an upper hand as the firstborn of Abraham?!

Ishmael had been born out of a bad decision, but it was not Ishmael's fault.  Now, if this boy would have behaved and been respectful and understanding, him and his mom maybe could have coexisted with Abraham and enjoyed some of the family blessings.  Abraham still loved Ishmael.  He was still his son after all.  But because of the arising tensions and the importance of Isaac being deemed as the heir, Ishmael and Hagar had to go.

It is always sad when families split up, for any reason.  But even when that does happen, one should still do the right thing.  I'm wondering why Abraham didn't give Hagar and Ishmael more than just bread and water for their journey.  God told Abraham once again to do exactly what Sarah wanted.  Perhaps she was just too mad to care, and Abraham knew that God was going to intervene.  Just curious if things had been done differently - if Sarah would have had more compassion, would the Muslims today still be so insistent that they are the rightful heirs to the land of Israel?  

God knew it was going to happen this way.  These attitudes are not an excuse, and the Bible doesn't say that these actions are recommended.  God shows us His will in the Bible, and it is up to us to do things His way or not.  Fortunately, God is sovereign!  No matter what we do, God is still able to carry out His plans.  But we will find out that when we choose to do things our way, it will not go so well.  And when we do things God's way, things go way better for everyone involved!