We are taking our meditation from Genesis 21:1-24, 26:1-31 in order to portray our point of discussion.
“And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”Gen 21:1.
God had begun to fulfill the word of promise he had given to Abraham. The things he said he would do had begun to find expression in the life of Abraham and Sarah. Isaac the child of promise had arrived and Abraham and Sarah were glad.
One day “..Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking”. Ishmael represents the errors, mistakes and weaknesses of Abraham and Sarah. They are those things in our lives that make a mockery of what God is doing in our life. Those weaknesses we struggle with that seem to negate the work of God in our life. They make us think that nothing positive is happening in our soul.
Thank God for the voice of the Spirit through Sarah for “she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac”. It would seem in the eyes of the natural that Sarah was being unfair or wicked to Hagar and her son. It feels as though it is not good but faith is about hearing the word of God and obeying not about how we feel. Ishmael must be eliminated in our lives.
The scripture says in 1Co 13:10 “But when that which is perfect (COMPLETE, TOTAL) is come, then that which is in part (imperfect, incomplete) shall be done away”.
When Isaac is revealed, Ishmael must be done away with. We are to learn to follow the leading of the Spirit and not our feeling. All weaknesses will be cast out as we work with the Holy Ghost.
We thank God also for Abraham who was able to yield to God to cast out his weaknesses (Ishmael) for he had a soft spot for him. “..the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of HIS son”. It sounded unfair, wicked and painful but God said to him “in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for IN ISAAC shall thy seed be called”. May the Lord help us to hear him clearly and receive grace to submit to His dealings. Whatever work God is doing in us to cast out those things that mock his promise in our live, we must receive grace to help in times of need. Shalom!
