"The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac." The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring." Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy die." And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob. God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation." Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink." Genesis 21:8-21
It didn’t take long after Isaac was born before family conflicts started to arise between Abraham’s wife Sarah and her servant Hagar who had bore Abraham’s son Ishmael. You’ll remember that Sarah and Hagar had a history of conflict. In Genesis, Chapter 16, Sarai (Sarah’s prior name) and Hagar got into it while Hagar was pregnant and Hagar ran away after Sarai mistreated her. You’ll remember that God ordered Hagar to return to Sarai and submit to her, promising that He would "increase (her) descendants (so) that they (would) be too numerous to count." In return, Hagar praised God and returned as He commanded, giving birth to Ishmael soon after.
Well, here in chapter 21 we see that Sarah gets angry after Ishmael "was mocking" telling Abraham to "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac." This places Abraham in great distress because he was placed in a very difficult position. On one hand, he wanted to appease his wife who was angry and was demanding he evict Hagar and his son Ishmael. On the other hand, he loved Hagar and his son Ishmael as well and couldn’t bear the thought of exiling them from his home. What would he do?
Question: Have you ever been in a similar position? Wanting to do the right thing while finding yourself dead in the middle of a conflict. I don’t know about you but I don’t handle conflict very well. Thank goodness our scripture gives us help in how we should deal with these times when they come.
In Abraham’s case, God enters in to help him when he needed it most. Torn between two decisions, God tells him the way to go saying "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring." So Abraham follows God’s command and sends Hagar and Ishmael away.
As Hagar and Ishmael wander across the desert of Beersheeba, they face hardship. The water Abraham had sent them off with was exhausted. Hagar knew their chances of survival were slim without water and she became terribly afraid. She cries out afraid that Ishmael will die ("I cannot watch the boy die"). Ishmael cries as well and it is his weeping that is heard by God who in turn responds saying to Hagar, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation." As God opened Hagar’s eyes, we read that she sees "a well of water" to drink from. Her desire for Ishmael to have water so he would survive was answered by God.
Question: Have you ever had one of these experiences where you were in need and cried out to the Lord and then experienced His providence as He gave you what you needed to get through your trial?
Our scripture above gives us one very key point to remember as highlighted by God’s interaction with first Abraham and then Hagar:
When we get into conflicting or complex situations, God will provide for us and guide us through. Abraham was anguished over the decision he had to make regarding Hagar and Ishmael. God entered in and led him to the right decision. Hagar anguished over being out of water, afraid that Ishmael would die from dehydration. God entered in and brought a well of water. What is it that you need? Are you under circumstances that have you confused as to what to do, how to feel, how to act, what to say and/or what to think. Trust and believe that God is ready to step in and show you the way.
One other very important point to ponder. Abraham’s decision led to Hagar’s God-moment. Had Abraham not obeyed God and sent Hagar out into the desert with Ishmael, then Hagar wouldn’t have had her God-moment…a moment so vital to her faith development and relationship with God. One led to the other. The lesson? We can’t possibly understand how God works and so we don’t know what He might be up to at any one time. He may be using you in the life of another so He can have a God-moment with Him. You may be an Abraham to a present day Hagar so never underestimate what God might be doing through you.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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