This is a momentous occasion!  After years of waiting for the promise of an heir, Abraham at 100 years old and Sarah at 90 years of age have been given a son, Isaac.  It is a wonderful day in the life of these two individuals as they see the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise.  What a lesson to learn about God’s faithfulness and patience regarding the Almighty’s timetable.  After years of waiting, this newborn babe has finally arrived.

Sarah’s first comment in scripture?  “God has made me laugh.”  And then she proceeds to explain that all who thought her too old will laugh along with her because it has happened, she is a mother!  But the trials have only begun.  When Isaac is old enough to have a feast prepared (probably after being weaned) Sarah sees Ishmael making fun of Isaac.  Now any of us who have children have experienced these feelings.  We see our children being made the jest of some situation and we go ballistic.  No one is going to make fun of our baby!  Of course, I don’t know what was transpiring between Ishmael who is probably in his mid-teens, but Sarah has waited a long time to have this son and Ishmael was a mistake to start with, right Sarah?

Sarah goes to Abraham and simply demands that Hagar and Ishmael be removed from the camp.  “Throw out this slave woman and her son.  Her son should not inherit anything; my son Isaac should receive it all.”  Whoa, Sarah!  Be thankful you have a son, but demanding everything for YOUR son?  Throw out this slave woman and HER son.  Aren’t both of these boys Abraham’s sons?  Sarah has no regard for Abraham’s firstborn son.  She realizes the promised covenant is coming through Isaac so let’s get on with life.  Get rid of Ishmael.  There are no feelings apparent for Abraham in regard to his son, Ishmael.  Of course, Ishmael was conceived from a suggestion by Sarah, remember?

I have to admit this story sometimes reads like a soap opera and I mean no disrespect.  Life and humans are messy.  We cultivate situations of our own making outside the will of our heavenly Father and then we have to suffer the consequences. 

1.      Abraham doesn’t want to disregard his son, Ishmael, and send him away from his protective watch care, but Abraham went along with Sarah’s suggestion of having an heir through her maidservant, an Egyptian named Hagar, years ago. Abraham is now suffering the consequences for agreeing to Sarah’s proposal.

2.    Sarah is miserable to think there will be any allegiance between HER son, Isaac, and her handmaiden’s son, Ishmael.  She wants to ensure Isaac is the one and only heir.  However, it was Sarah’s brainstorm that led to the birth of Ishmael.  Now Sarah is faced with the consequences.

But the story continues and Abraham follows the voice of God as, I’m sure, Abraham goes to the Lord in prayer about the situation involving his two sons.  Isaac being the promised heir will be the conduit through which the covenant will flow.  Ishmael and Hagar are given provisions and sent on their way.

I can’t even imagine what Abraham went through as he loaded upon the food and a leather bag full of water and sent Hagar and Ishmael on their way.  Knowing they were headed for the desert of Beersheba, Abraham knew if God didn’t watch over them and care for them death would take their lives.  He probably remembered God’s words, “I will also make the descendants of Ishmael into a great nation because he is your son, too.”  I envision Abraham praying those words every single day over his son, Ishmael.

Now comes the part when the water and food run out and Hagar and Ishmael are still in the desert.  She decides they will probably die and she puts her son under a bush for a covering from heat and begins to cry.  God hears her cry and that of the boy, Ishmael and sends an angel to provide a word of refreshment for the soul and body.  (NOTE:  Ishmael means “God hears” and God definitely is hearing the cries of Ishmael and his mother.) Hagar is reminded that Ishmael will grow into a great nation with many descendents.  Hagar and Ishmael live in the Desert of Paran, Ishmael becomes an excellent archer and his mother gets for him a wife from the land of Egypt, the area from which she comes. 

For some reason, Abimelech enters the story again.  The commentary I often use doesn’t believe this Abimelech to be the same as from the previous chapter, but it appears they know or are known of one another.  Especially from verse 23 when Abimelech states, “Be kind to me and to this land where you have lived as a stranger—as kind as I have been to you.”  This suggests previous history between the men.

Apparently, Abimelech’s herdsmen had confiscated a well on Abraham’s land without Abimelech’s knowledge.  All things are worked out and Abraham gives Abimelech sheep and cattle to seal an agreement that they would work together on keeping the peace between their people.  In addition Abraham gave Abimelech seven female lambs as an offering in good faith that proved Abraham dug this particular well.  They called the place Beersheba and Abimelech and his army commander, Phicol, returned to the land of the Philistines.  This is where Abraham is currently residing.

Lessons to be learned: 

1.      There are consequences for our actions regardless of how harmless or reasonable we think they might be.

2.    God will provide for us when we call out to him.  Sometimes these provisions are not quite what we expected or given quite the way we had anticipated, but they are answered for our good and God’s glory.

3.    Never burn bridges with those we encounter on life’s highway.  You never know when you’ll meet them again and need their assistance or cooperation.

Father, thank you for answered prayers.  Although years might pass before we hear or see an answer, keep us on our knees.  Constantly remind us that there are consequences for our actions and always pray before we try to take matters into our own hands.  As moms, help us when the surly bear protective nature takes over and gently bar us from getting in your way as you grow our children’s spiritual lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Next Week’s Assignment:

Chapter 22, Genesis:  Testing, Again?

I only have three burning questions for this week.  Why test Abraham again?  Why use Isaac, the long awaited heir?  What is God possibly teaching us through this story?