Take Two: Gen 21, Proverbs 12

Gen 21 reveals the fulfillment of the promise to give Abraham a son by Sarah. In God's timing, He brought about the fulfillment of the promise according to His Word (Gen 21:1-2). Abraham circumcised his son on the 8th day as he was commanded. (Note, this was before the Law was written down. As I noted in a previous discussion on the tithe as an offering being a practice that preceded the Law, so is this act of circumcision.)

As Isaac grew it seems that Ishmael began to "mock" him. I am not sure of the extent or exact nature....but it seems to be more than a sibling rivalry. Sarah wanted Ishmael and Hagar out and Abraham was distressed. Ishmael was his son as well.

God told Abraham to send Ishmael and Hagar away as Sarah had requested and affirmed that his line of descendents would be through Isaac (Gen 21:12). This gives us some insight into the mindset that was guiding Abraham. His son Ishmael was also a descendent (Gen 21:13) of Abraham but God points to the descendents of Isaac as the line of promise. Since God gave both children to Abraham, it would seem reasonable to conclude that part of what troubled Abraham about sending Ishmael away was that Abraham did not want to interfere with God bringing about his covenant promise. In other words, Abraham was really concerned about insuring that he would not miss the will of God.

Gen 21:13 is a promise from God to Abraham regarding Ishmael. We see God's hand of blessing "play out" in the following verses (Gen 21:14-20). God spoke to Hagar in Gen 21:17 and affirmed that He is still a God who sees (Gen 16:13), and is a God who hears (the cries of the lad). God provided a well for water (Gen 21:19) and met their needs in the wilderness.

The remaining verses of Gen 21:22-34 detail the covenant with Abimelech that Abraham made.

Proverbs 12:16 is the takeaway today. Displays of anger (outbursts) are displays of a lack of discipline. We are emotional beings...but not beings that are to be controlled by our emotions. Our emotions (feelings) are to be controlled. We know from the NT, that one of the "fruits of the Spirit" is self-control. As we learn to yield ourselves to God and endeavor to be led by the Spirit in all things, we find that controlling our emotional responses is made possible.

Grace,