So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.
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 with Isaac." And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son.
But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed."—Genesis 21:8-13
There is much in this section of Scripture, but for today’s devotional I am focusing solely on Sarah’s reaction to the scoffing of Ishmael, Abraham’s son by Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant.
But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.—Galatians 4:29
People can make me very tired. People can make me angry. People can make me very sad. People can get my focus off of God and onto the never-ending saga of how I was wronged or, as in this case, both me and my child were wronged. What happened to Sarah here is exactly what happens to me when my focus is on the horizontal rather than the vertical. It is what happens when I don’t take captive my initial fleshly reaction to a situation but instead dwell on them.
This is not the first time we find Sarah embroiled in conflicts with others. Earlier, Sarah had mistreated Hagar and now Hagar’s son was mistreating Sarah’s son Isaac. Sarah had caused Hagar, who was with child to flee, and now she was the cause of both Hagar and Ishmael’s fleeing.
Thankfully, our God can use even our sin for our good and His glory. He used this particular incident of Ishmael’s scoffing (literally laughing) to drive out Hagar and Ishmael. God chose Isaac to be Abraham’s heir. Ishmael was a threat to Isaac’s inheritance and had to be removed. God works all things together for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."—Galatians 4:30
It is always good for me to remember that what the people around me say and do reveal way more about them than they do about me. It is also good for me to remember that God is my defense. In any situation, I can commit myself to Him who judges with absolute and perfect righteousness. I can cast all my cares, hurts and offenses on Him because He cares for me.
How much better for me is it to go to God with my problems than to angst about them in my heart. God never makes me tired. He makes my crooked places straight. My God is my strength and my song. He accepts me, hears my prayers and has compassion on me. He is my refuge and the One to whom I pour out my heart. Time spent with Him renews a right spirit within me.
Beloved…bring unity by obeying God and praying for your enemies. Trust your hurts to Him and let Him perfect that which concerns you. Yes, God told Abraham to listen to Sarah (she was right) but how much better would it have been for all had they waited for God to bring about His perfect will for Ishmael in His own perfect way.
I am weary with my groaning;
All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears.
My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.
Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my supplication;
The LORD will receive my prayer.
Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.—Psalm 6:6-10
I called on the LORD in distress;
The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
The LORD is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The LORD is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in princes.—Psalm 118:5-9
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.—Proverbs 3:5-6
Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.—Psalm 112:4
He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is established;
He will not be afraid,
Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.—Psalm 112:7-8
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written:
"Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children
Than she who has a husband."
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.—Galatians 4:21-31
