Hagar and Ishmael 

 

 Genesis 21:8-21 (New International Version)

8The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”

11The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. 13I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”

14Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

15When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.

17God 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; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

19Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

20God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. 

 

God can deal with human mess

 

our God is a God who listens to the cry of any child . He was so faithful to his promise with Abraham.God opened the eyes of Hagar, and the child survived.  Remember she is the one who gave God the name God of seeing- El Roi. What God said about Ishmael is true even today, ‘’ He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he shall dwell over against  all his kinsmen. I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princess, and I will make  him  into a great nation”.  Remember none of God’s word is obsolete but eternally true!