Reading

• Gen. 20:1-21:7, 22-34, 8-21

Devotional

GOD had promised Abraham and Sarah they would have a son. But Sarah laughed and didn’t believe GOD, thinking she was too old to have a baby. Rather than simply trust in GOD to bring about what He had promised, Abraham and Sarah decided to “help GOD out” and Sarah gave her handmaid Hagar to Abraham to be his wife. When Sarah learned that Hagar was pregnant she despised Hagar.

Hagar gave birth to a son named Ishmael. Later, when GOD brought about His promise to Abraham, Sarah gave birth to a son named Isaac. Abraham threw a feast for Isaac when he was young. Sarah saw Ishmael making fun of Isaac and she was angry. Sarah told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. This made Abraham very sad, because he loved Ishmael since he was Abraham’s son. GOD told Abraham to go ahead with Sarah’s wishes and send Ishmael and Hagar away. (As an aside, this is the first example of divorce that is recorded in the Bible.)

No doubt this situation was very painful and sad for Abraham. How would this situation be different if Abraham and Sarah had simply trusted and waiting on GOD to bring about His promise of a son? When we fail to trust fully in GOD it leads to problems. We need GOD to direct our steps because we aren’t able to do it ourselves.

O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
(Jer. 10:23)

Failure to trust completely and follow GOD results in a lot of sadness. Yet it is important to note that GOD can take any mistake we make and turn it into good. He is that wise and that powerful. All He wants is for us to trust Him and lean on Him as opposed to our own thinking and wisdom.

GOD kept His promise to Ishmael and he sustained Hagar and Ishmael and was with Ishmael and blessed them.