"Do As Sarah Tells You..."

November 16, 2016

“Do As Sarah Tells You…”

Blessings folk!

Isaac, the son of the Promise, grew.
He was now of weaning age.
Abraham gave a great feast to celebrate.
Watch what happens.

Gen 21:8-14

The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

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

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.”

The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son.

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.

“And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.”

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.


Family squabble.

Ishmael, the son of Hagar the Egyptian and Abraham, was mocking Isaac.

Exact ages are not provided, but Isaac would have 2-3 years of age, Ishmael, 15-16.

We do not know what form the mocking took.
Likely the type of thing that young, immature men do.

Regardless, Sarah noted and was greatly upset.

Sarah demanded that “this maid” and son be driven out…dismissed.
She knew that he was not the son of the Promise.
She wanted to make certain that there would be no inheritance…some vindictiveness here.

Abraham was greatly distressed.
He loved Ishmael…as he should.
He desired for Ishmael to love and pursue God.

God comforted Abraham by given him a directed Word:
Do not be distressed.
Listen to Sarah, whatever she says.
Through Isaac his descendants would come.
God would make the son of the maid a great nation, because he was Abraham’s descendant.

Abraham walked in obedience.
He did as the Lord instructed…as difficult as it might be.

May we do likewise.