SUNDAY, June 28, 2009                                                       READ: Genesis 21: 1 - 21                                                                                                        

ABRAHAM LOVED HIS SON, ISHMAEL

MEMORIZE: ‘And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely Isaac.” And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son.’         Genesis 21: 10, 11

It is interesting to observe people’s reaction whenever I make the statement that fathers do love their children. It is often asked, “If they love them, why don’t they take care of them?” Well, if the truth is told we will discover that there are many dynamics which work against fathers being able and willing to be involved in the lives of their children. It is very unfortunate, yet, true.

It had been at least fourteen years since Hagar, Sarah’s bondservant, gave birth to Ishmael. Ishmael lived in his father’s house and was beloved by his father. Now, we are told in our text, Genesis 21: 1-21, that with the birth of Isaac, Abraham had some new issues which he had to face. He doubtless had given as much thought to the fact that Sarah, his wife, had a real problem with the idea of the bondwoman’s son sharing the same status as her son. Things had not turned out the way she had hoped. Sarah had told Abraham that, “I am blaming you for the way things have turned out…” (16: 5). Sarah and Hagar never seem to have been able to reconcile store the trust and respect. Not only would Sarah have been able to feel vindicated by God with the birth of Isaac, she would need to be willing to believe that God was going to fulfill all of His good promises concerning her son, Isaac. In v. 9, we are able to see how Ishmael had been taught to regard his younger brother with disdain and contempt. What would the nature of the ridicule and scoffing be? Ishmael was ridiculing his own brother. “Children learn what they live, and live what they learn.” Is it possible that the flame of jealousy could have been fanned by his mother’s remarks to him? We do that today too. We teach our children how to act “better than thou” to other people and they go right ahead and act it out. Evidently, Hagar never really learned her lesson about respect. She really did not feel that she could give Sarah the kind of disrespect she wanted to, so she got her son to do it for her. It is quite likely that the ridicule that Ishmael taunted at his brother had to do with the fact that Isaac’s mother was so old, or, that his mother was not as skillful as his mother was. We are told that Sarah witnessed the ridicule and decided to put an end to it. She told her husband, Abraham, to “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for this bondwoman shall not be heir with my, namely with Isaac.” What do you make of what Sarah said to her husband? Was she being haughty and disrespectful to him? Unfortunately, Abraham actually acted in a manner that set himself up for this kind of disrespect from his wife when he gave in to her insistence in 16: 2. Observe that God did not step in and reprimand Sarah for this, not because she was right. He does not violate His own principles of sowing and reaping (cf. Galatians 6: 7; Proverbs 20: 7). In v. 11, we are given a glimpse into Abraham’s response to what she said, and how she spoke to him. Abraham loved his son, his first son, Ishmael (cf. 17: 18). In v. 12, we see how God answered Abraham’s complaint Him. Abraham loved his son and had become attached to him. To Abraham, Ishmael was a sign of his virility. God had already indicated to Abraham that the promise had some exclusivity to it. It had to do specifically with Sarah’s son, Isaac (17: 19 – 22). Love needs to act within, and, according to, the will of God. He is the Author of love. Abraham had, evidently lost focus of God’s will. God was using Sarah, his wife, to keep things on track (cf. Romans 8: 28). She did not do things “according to the book,” but God was using her. He was accomplishing His will through her concerns. Are you in touch with that?

PRAY:LORD, God Almighty, there is no one beyond you or above You. I know that You are faithful, consistent and true. I want to learn to trust You wholeheartedly. Teach me Your ways, O Lord! Help me to live a blameless life before You, in Jesus’ strong name. Amen.