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Sunday School Lesson
It is easy for us to recognize - in hindsight - the problems that develop with the "best laid plans of mice and men." What might be seen - in the planning stages - to be some kind of fool-proof plan, does not always meet the anticipated results. When God gives a promise, one can rest assured that the plan will be carried out in his time and by his means. However, when the human factor attempts to aid the divine, this factor becomes a hindrance to the human side of the equation. God promised Abraham that he would have a son by his wife, Sarah. As time passed, and this event did not occur, Sarah decided that "God needed some help." In that society, it was not unheard of for the wife to offer her personal maid to her husband for the purpose of producing a child that would be accepted as the "child of the wife." Thus, Sarah offered her "handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar." Genesis 16:1. Conception occurred. Genesis 16:4. The attitude of Hagar caused Sarah to deal "hardly with her" so "she fled from her face." Genesis 16:6. "The angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness ... and he said ... return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands." Genesis 16:7-9. The angel - divine messenger - gave a promise to Hagar. "And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold... thou shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction." Genesis 16:11. The nature of the child was declared. "And he will be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." Genesis 16:12. We are told that "Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. And Abram was four score and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram." Genesis 16:15, 16. When the Lord appeared to Abram, and gave the specific promise concerning the birth of Isaac (Genesis 17:1- 17), a divine promise was given concerning Ishmael - as the offspring of Abram. "And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; 12 princes shall he beget, and will make him a great nation." Genesis 17:20. Since God gave to Abraham the covenant of circumcision, we are told that he "took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him." Genesis 17:23. Abraham was now 99 years old. Genesis 17:24. In blended families, trouble can spring from unexpected sources. We are told that "Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking." Genesis 21:9. This scene did not "sit well" with the mistress of the house. "Wherefore 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 Isaac." Genesis 21:10. The effect on Abraham was the same that one would expect from a loving father. "And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son." Genesis 21:11. It would seem that Abraham went to prayer before the one who had given him his call, and was leading his steps. "And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of the bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called." Genesis 21:12. The promise made to Hagar was, also, given to Abraham. "And also of the son of the bondwoman will make a nation, because he is thy seed." Genesis 21:13. The time came for direct action to be taken. "And Abraham rose up early in then morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba." Genesis 21:14. Naturally, provisions will be used up, if they are not replenished. With only that which could be carried by the woman, this condition was soon upon the woman and the child. "And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs." Genesis 21:15. The pitiful scene is described. "And she went, and sat down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice and wept." Genesis 21:16. Even though the birth of the child was not under the "ideal conditions," God did not forget the promises that had been made. The desperate cries of this child reached the heart of the loving heavenly father. "And God heard he voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is." Genesis 21:17. Instructions were given to this desperate mother. "Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation." Genesis 21:18. It was important for Hagar to receive this promise, but the immediate problem needed attention. "And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink." Genesis 21:19. There is no scriptural evidence of any other "spiritual encounter" in the lives of Hagar nor her son. However, the record gives some information regarding this man. "And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt." Genesis 21:20, 21.
No matter what was done in that household in the past, God brought the Savior - Jesus Christ of Nazareth - into the world to bring salvation to all mankind. John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8, 9.
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