Genesis 21.5–21: Party or pariah? (Day 20)

Pray

Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.

Read

Genesis 21 Matthew 20 Nehemiah 10 Acts 20

Daily Reflection: Genesis 21

It should be party time. We’ve journeyed with Abraham and Sarah through the rough path of infertility, seemingly unfulfilled promises and a very long wait – by anyone’s standards. But after 25 years, Isaac is now born! God has fulfilled his promise to Abraham and Sarah to give them a son. A woman past child-bearing age has had a child. It is right to celebrate!

And yet it’s a bittersweet passage. There’s no escaping the ruthless treatment of Sarah’s servant Hagar, who once again falls victim to Sarah’s jealousy. Sarah’s request to send Hagar and her son away would almost certainly have ended in their death (verse 16). It’s painful to see Abraham and Sarah’s distrust in God reap more destruction, especially at the expense of Hagar and Ishmael who had little control over what happened to them.

But God is involved in all parts of this messy story. He picks up the pieces of Abraham and Sarah’s actions with blessings for all. He promises Hagar and Ishmael protection and prosperity, hearing their cry and promising them a great future and purpose. He reassures Abraham – who feels the pain of Sarah’s actions (verse 11) – he has things in his hand.

As we follow God’s will for our lives we’ll no doubt get it wrong sometimes, hurting others in the process. Let’s adequately repent and move on, trusting God to help us put back together the pieces.

Pray

We praise you, God, that you can be trusted to do as you say. Thank you for the times you've kept your promises to me: I name them before you now. Forgive me for the times I’ve let my insecurities direct my actions at the expense of others, rather than trusting your promises. Keep me walking in your will and help me to see how you are working out your promises in my life.