Genesis 21:1-21 We must learn to let go and let God

Genesis 21:1-21

Then the Lord took note of Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised. 2 So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. 4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” 8 The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

9 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.

Background

God visits Abraham and Sarah fulfilling the promise of an heir. However, joy is short-lived as Abraham finds himself torn between Sarah and a mocking Ishmael. God, by divine providence forces Abraham to let go of Ishmael so that His predestination may take place in the boy’s life. Today’s devotion teaches us to let go of the things that we hold dear so that God may make something beautiful out of it.

Observation

Then the Lord took note of Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised.

The Hebrew for “took note” literally means “visited”; a direct intervention of God this time for blessing and salvation. Fulfilment of God’s promise of an heir is matched by Abraham’s obedience: Abraham calls the name of his son Isaac and circumcises him on the eighth day of his birth.

Sarah declares that God has made laughter for her, this time not incredulously but faithfully with thanksgiving. Hence, all will now rejoice and laugh with amazement of this unexpected outcome: Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? When Isaac is about three years of age, Abraham holds a great feast to commemorate the weaning of his son.

Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.

Sarah catches Ishmael mocking, which is to laugh maliciously perhaps at Isaac. The context implies a rivalry where Ishmael persecutes Isaac for having taken away his place as heir. Ishmael’s disdain for Isaac mirrors his mother’s for Sarah. Sarah moves instinctively to expel Hagar and Ishmael effectively disinheriting them: for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac. The expulsion and divorce of Hagar and Ishmael lawfully prevent the children of slaves to share in the estate of the children of the master.

The matter distresses Abraham which takes him to the Lord’s counsel who then advices: whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her. The Lord concurs with Sarah on two grounds: the children of promise will be established through Isaac and the assurance of making Ishmael’s descendants a great nation. Secured by God’s providence for Ishmael, Abraham sets his mind towards letting Ishmael go.

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.

Abraham equips Hagar with basic provisions and sends them off. Obviously for Abraham, this is a painful separation with his first born. He is nevertheless comforted only by God’s assurance of Ishmael’s survival and eventual prosperity. Ishmael, by this time would have been well into his teens and capable of some independence.

Before long, the water is used up and Hagar, in not wanting to see her son suffer separates herself from him by a bowshot. She faces a heart wrenching contradiction… in desiring to be near her son but yet cannot bear to see him fade away. Hagar, in utter despair and helplessness, weeps freely. However, the God who promises (see Genesis 16:11) is also the God who provides. A divine intervention, a prophetic word sees Hagar lifting her son’s hand towards the arising of a great nation. Here, God miraculous provides water for their sustenance.

God delivers His promise in guiding Ishmael every step of the way. Ishmael’s fondness for fighting and a nomadic lifestyle have become a legacy for his descendants.

Truth

The spirit of the children of faith and the children of the flesh are in opposition.

The children of faith and the flesh are represented by Isaac and Ishmael respectively. God, by His foreknowledge has comprehensive understanding of each person’s motives as every heart is laid bare before Him. With this foreknowledge, God predestines the path of each person so that all may attain their fullest potential and calling. God predestines Isaac as the heir of the lineage of faith and promise. Whereas for Ishmael, a great nation not of faith but of the flesh. God’s righteous judgment of the two brothers begins to unravel with Ishmael showing his rebellious and fleshly nature through his unwarranted mocking of Isaac. Ishmael, by his insubordination to the divine appointment is expelled from Abraham’s family. The two siblings are in fact a microcosm of humanity at large. The traits of the children of faith are in direct opposition with the children of the flesh:

Traits of the children of faith:

• Desires the approval of God
• Sacrifices their own comfort for the sake of others
• They place complete trust in God’s promises and faithfulness
• They make plans by God’s directives
• They desire God’s word and fellowship
• They are constantly assured of God’s acceptance as they walk in His will

Traits of the children of the flesh:

• Desires the glamour of the world and approval of men
• Their own comfort and their family’s rank above all things
• They trust in themselves and what they can hold and control
• They make their own plans and then ask God to bless them
• They have little to no affinity towards God and His word
• They are guilt ridden because their conscience condemns them

The two groups are very different in their core beliefs and make up: their goals, desires and values differ and so are their destinies. Therefore, it is absolutely important that children of the faith do not yoke themselves with children of the flesh. Especially in marriage relationships or in business partnerships, we must seek godly counsel before committing to it. Many relationships and partnerships suffer costly and messy breakups because their spirits are different. We must strengthen our discernment of people so that we may place them appropriately in our life or organisation.

We must learn to let go and let God

What does it mean to let go? And why is it so important? To let go involves understanding the limits of our capabilities, and our role while depending on God to accomplish His plans in the grand scheme of things. Man is limited in the following:

• Limited in time: we cannot always be available.
• Limited in space: we cannot always be present.
• Limited in scope: we are not always able.
• Limited in knowledge: we are not always in the know.

But God is always available, present, and all-powerful and all wise. Thus, He is fully equipped to bring the vision to completion.

But, why does success always got to be based on God’s promise? If our vision is grand bringing wide-ranging and far-reaching benefits to the world, it will naturally require divine intervention. But if our vision is small, then human efforts may suffice. Nevertheless, people still find it hard to trust God either because they do not know God or they do not agree with His ways. Many do not understand that God is love, and He is a giver and blesser of all who believe in Him. Yet, many more do not agree with His vision, because their ways are selfish.

God forces upon Abraham the decision to let Ishmael go. In doing so Ishmael may fall under God’s direct prerogative in moulding him and predetermining his path. In a few years, God forces Abraham to make the same decision concerning Isaac. In order for Abraham to leave a legacy of faith for future generations, he must learn to let Isaac go and let God take him as a sacrifice for Himself (see Genesis 22). God can do a better job in shaping our children or our disciples than we can. Therefore, our human effort in order to be effective must find its proper place in the grand plans of God. We must learn to let go of the things we hold dear so that it may bear fruit, fruit that will remain. Jesus teaches about letting go of one’s earthly life so that he may attain eternal life,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” John 12:24-25

Concerning our children, knowing when to let go so that they may make mistakes and learn in the process. In learning to let go, we flow with God’s perfect plans not becoming a hindrance but an instrument of blessing.

Application

The best way to let go and let God is to observe how God works in our lives. God uses unfavourable circumstances to discipline us if we choose not to obey His word. Therefore, we must be patient and learn to let people make their own decisions and reap due consequences. In doing so, God uses us as His mouthpiece while retaining His providential control over their lives.

Dear Lord, I trust that your ways are higher than my ways although I do not always understand them. I believe that your promises will never fail. And you can make all things possible by your power and wisdom. I let go of the things that I treasure, my dreams, my children, and my career, my ministry and my wealth. I let you take full control of these things so that it may bear fruit for a greater purpose. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.