Genesis 21:17 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 … “
Nestled in between the scriptures on Abraham and Isaac that were read in church this morning is the story of Hagar and Ishmael. Hagar was a servant of Sarah’s, who was the wife of Abraham. When Sarah couldn’t conceive a male child for Abraham, a desperate plan was devised for Abraham to produce a male child through Hagar. If Sarah couldn’t provide the promised heir, then perhaps Hagar could! The plan initially worked beautifully, with Hagar giving birth to the male child Ishmael.
But alas, after Ishmael’s birth, Sarah finally conceived the male child promised by God – and poor Ishmael just became a reminder of the couple’s lack of faith. I guess you could say that Abraham ended up with “an heir and a spare” after Sarah delivered baby Isaac. Ishmael was simply no longer needed.
As Isaac grew, so did jealousy in the heart of Sarah. She couldn’t stand the sight of Isaac’s half brother Ishmael. And what was Abraham to do? For Sarah’s peace of mind, Hagar and son Ishmael were sent packing.
Our scripture focus addresses God’s reassurances to Hagar. She was promised comfort and survival, and a place for her son. God knew where Hagar was and sought her out in her desperation. He does the same for us!
Bask in the knowledge that
God truly sees our pain. We are not invisible to him, nor are our lives insignificant. When life heaps it on, God is there! He doesn’t promise riches or a life free of pain, but he does promise to never leave us or forsake us.
Dear Lord, when life gets too intense to fully see your presence, may we find comfort in the encouragement of others and in the knowledge that you have promised to always be there.
Blessings,
Diana
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