Great Expectations
Opening Prayer
“O Breath of God, come breathe within… Spirit of God, we wait for you” (Tim Hughes, Thankyou Music).
Read Genesis 21:1–21
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[1] Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. [2] Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. [3] Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. [4] When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. [5] Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. [6] Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” [7] And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” [8] 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.” [14] 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. [15] When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. [16] Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob. [17] God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. [18] Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” [19] Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. [20] God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. [21] While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
When have you doubted what God can do in your life? God promises (17:19). A year later it happens (21:1,2). Just imagine Isaac’s parents’ joy as theylook down lovingly and in awe at the tiny baby—the wrinkly start of the Lord’s vast plan to blessevery nation in the world through them (12:2,3). The birth is a miracle, sure enough, but howwill God now reach every nation? How many miracles will that take?Life isn’t straightforward for the new family. There’s Hagar the Egyptian, and her mocking son,Abraham’s mocking son—Ishmael. Sarah’s angry; she wants them out. She wants things clear:Isaac is the one God has chosen, not Ishmael.But God has good plans even for Ishmael.Sometimes we think that we know what God is up to, but we only catch a glimpse. Count howmany times the Lord protects and provides for Hagar and Ishmael as they leave Abraham’s campand wander in the desert. We should never underestimate God’s reach, his goodness and hisability to use everything for good in his big plan.God promises (17:19). A year later it happens (21:1,2). Just imagine Isaac’s parents’ joy as they look down lovingly and in awe at the tiny baby—the wrinkly start of the Lord’s vast plan to bless every nation in the world through them (12:2,3). The birth is a miracle, sure enough, but how will God now reach every nation? How many miracles will that take?
Life isn’t straightforward for the new family. There’s Hagar the Egyptian, and her mocking son, Abraham’s mocking son—Ishmael. Sarah’s angry; she wants them out. She wants things clear: Isaac is the one God has chosen, not Ishmael.
But God has good plans even for Ishmael.
Sometimes we think that we know what God is up to, but we only catch a glimpse. Count how many times the Lord protects and provides for Hagar and Ishmael as they leave Abraham’s camp and wander in the desert. We should never underestimate God’s reach, his goodness and his ability to use everything for good in his big plan.
Apply
Reflect on the amazing things you see the Lord doing in and around yourself, your family, your church and your community.
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