Baby Isaac might have been a delight to all and sundry. The boy with the old mother was taken care of and even enjoyed the breastmilk of his mother. Nursing Isaac will have been moments of joy and satisfaction for Sarah. Her miracle baby has changed her life for good. Sarah’s testimony might have been heard by as many as possible and the woman who was not able to conceive became a mother. Indeed, God’s faithfulness is mind-blowing. Genesis 21:8-9 records that “the child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking.” Isaac’s weaning day feast might have been a big celebration. Everyone would have been laughing and dancing and rejoicing in God’s goodness. In the midst of this jamboree, Sarah was watching and she saw what probably Abraham and the other guests might have missed. Sarah saw Ishmael mocking and this did not go down well with Sarah. 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.” (Genesis 21:10) When everyone else was celebrating, Sarah was not happy. Her plan to facilitate God’s plan has now become her greatest fear. She couldn’t stand the mockery of Ishmael “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” (Genesis 21:10). What was Hagar’s crime? Why is Sarah so poised about inheritance now? Is Ishmael not legitimately qualified for the inheritance of his father’s estate? Did Abraham and the rest of the guests miss the bigger picture? “The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son” (Genesis 21:11). Within that period Abraham had grown to love Ishmael, and as a father, he couldn’t just drive his own son away. “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. I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.” (Genesis 21:12-13). Abraham had to do the needful, and “early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba” (Genesis 21:14). It might have been a very difficult decision for Abraham but Sarah’s request was urgent. The same Sarah who requested for Abraham to take Hagar and have a child through Hagar, was now displeased by the presence of her own handiwork. What we do while we wait for our promise, is very important. Ishmael and Hagar had to suffer from Sarah’s quick decision to have a child. Sarah’s request was fulfilled and Ishmael and Hagar were driven away. One lesson we should learn from this story is the fact that whatever decision we made has lasting consequences. Sarah might have driven Ishmael away but the seed of hatred and wickedness escalated to something else. Years later, the biological and adopted descendents of Sarah and Abraham still face the venom of wrath from the seed of anger and vengeance. Before you make any life-changing decision, consider the immediate and long-term impacts on you and the people who will come after you. Ishmael is Isaac’s brother, but the two have been at loggerheads for a long time. Before the birth of Ishmael, the angel of the Lord told Hagar that Ishmael “will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” (Genesis 16:12). Until Jesus returns the second time, we might continue to experience the consequences of Sarah’s request. What can we do to ensure peace? “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” (Romans 12:17-19)
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