Hagar, part 4

We like stories when we know who is right and who is wrong. We want them to end well. But that’s just not always how things work out.

“The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a great feast. ⁹ But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, ¹⁰ and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” ¹¹ The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. ¹² But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. ¹³ I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.” (Genesis 21 v 8-13)

A party is taking place, for Isaac was born a few years ago, and everyone is happy. The promised child is the focus, Isaac, Sarah’s pride and joy. But. That word. The juxtaposition between what is good and what is spoiling. Hagar’s son, Ishmael, was older, probably around 14 years older. In the place of celebration … but. Ishmael’s youthful immaturity was belittling Isaac, and Sarai was protective. Abraham is given the command – get rid. But Ishmael was his son, and this command was too much. He is caught between the two, and God steps in, revealing the future for both boys.

Broken families, mixed families, mixed-up families, flawed relatives, situations broken by jealousies and fear. Even at Christmas, a season of peace and goodwill to all men, brokenness is evident all around. Who is right and who is wrong? This is not the question. Instead, can God step in? Can God bring sense from confusion and a future from a mess? The answer is YES, he can. He doesn’t need perfection from us. Ishmael’s mocking, Sarah’s scorning, Abraham’s distress and Hagar’s fate and yet He is still faithful to His promise.

Perhaps you have a fractured family, and maybe in this season, you are navigating impossible decisions and even hurting from other people’s choices. It’s not easy, and God doesn’t promise it will be. There’s no simple answer. But what you need to know is that God does step in, and sometimes He does that in response to our distress. But maybe you need to invite Him today to step into your family and into your world.