“‘SARAH…TURNED UPON ABRAHAM AND DEMANDED, ‘GET RID OF
THAT…GIRL AND HER SON.’” GENESIS 21:10 (TLB)
It was easy for Sarah to say ‘get rid’ ofthem! She
had no emotional investment in the deal! Abraham had
fathered this son whom he loved and who bore his
features. But just because you are willing to take responsibility for your actions, it does not mean there will not be painful consequences. Be careful where you lie down; getting up again may not be as easy as you think!
There are things in life you can give up effortlessly;
others take every ounce of grace and grit you have. It
is especially hard to give something up when you can
see yourself reflected in it: a job you love, a house
you are living in, a relationship you are involved in
can make you want to keep things as they are. But when
you have gone as far as you can with your Ishmael and
you are ready to see God’s promise fulfilled in your
life, you must be willing to relinquish anything that
will hold you back.
If you have ever wondered how Abraham could bear to
offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah,
remember Ishmael. When you have given up one thing, it
is easier to give up another. When you see somebody
who really worships God, you might want to think twice
before calling them a fanatic. Remember, behind the ‘hallelujah’ there is often a sacrifice. Chances are, when you look in their past you will find an Ishmael they loved and had to let go. Is there a message here for you?
