(Genesis 21:9-21) Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.” 11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. 13 And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.” 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 When the water in the skin was used up, she left the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.” And she sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice and wept. 17 God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” 19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink.
20 God was with the lad, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness and became an archer. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
I'm curious if Abraham told Hagar and Ishmael about God's promise to make Ishmael a great nation. I know I would have - as I sent someone off into the wilderness with only some bread and a bit of water... just so I would not feel so guilty!!! Plus - it is a message from God, Himself, with a message of hope!!! Duh - along with a promise of becoming a great nation - would come the promise that you could not die until you had at least one child!
And if Abraham didn't say anything, Hagar had heard this same promise from the angel of the Lord the first time she left Abraham's household (in Genesis 16). So did she forget all about that promise when she found herself and her son in the wilderness the second time, without water and severely dehydrated? And if she did remember, why did she not call on the Lord for help? Or at least argue with God and plead her case. Instead, because obviously she did not trust or believe in God or His promise, Hagar assumed the very worst, and hopelessly prepared herself for death.
Then the angel of God appeared to her again to not only remind her of His promise, but to provide them with a source of water which would keep them from dying. This parallels how God saves us from sin. Unbelievers find themselves in a barren wilderness which leads to death. It is God who opens our eyes - so we can see the living water - Jesus - Who has been right in front of us the entire time. We just need to go to Him - to "drink" and live.
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