Scripture for today: Genesis 15; Genesis 16; Genesis 17; Luke 6 (New International Version)
Scripture-My special verse today: Genesis 17:19 Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” 22 When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.
Observation: Even though God promises Abraham and heir, he is unwilling to trust God completely. He takes the matter into his own hands and has a child with a servant, not his wife as God promised. When the child is born jealousy arises between his wife and servant. When the child is born, the servant and son, Ishmael, are cast out and sent away to die. However, God intervenes and saves Ishmael but not before declaring his covenant will be established with Isaac.
Application: Are we always responsible for the blessings and curses in our lives or are they inflicted upon us by others at times? Clearly according to this story, others can dictate our path regardless of what we choose to do. When one sins others feel the pain. Sometimes for a lifetime.
I wonder how Ishmael felt about this ordeal. Was he full of hatred toward God or not at this time? The scripture says he was a teenager at this time and I doubt he was thrilled with the path his life story was taking. However, he was unable to change the outcome despite his desires. And sometimes that is just the way things are. We cannot pick our parents or family and their decisions effect us all.
Prayer: Lord, let me turn to you instead of the world for understanding.
