Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+21.8-21

Scripture

Then God opened her eyes and, she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

Observation

After Isaac is born, Sarah becomes jealous of her servant Hagar and Ishmael, the son she had born to Abraham. She tells Abraham to cast mother and son out into the wilderness so that Ishmael will not inherit what should be Isaac’s.

Abraham is distressed by this, but the Lord tells him that Ishmael will become a nation as well as Isaac. Reluctantly, Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away.

Hagar runs out of water and is ready to die along with her son. Then God sends an angel to bring words of comfort, and opens her eyes to see a well.

Application

Ishmael was conceived from unbelief. He was Sarah’s way of making God’s plan work when it was obvious that they needed a miracle.. Yet, because of his father, God still honoured him and provided for him.

God cares for the outcast.

God is not ashamed of our shame.

God accepts us In out rejection.

When we fell that we deserve nothing from God’s hand, then we are ready to receive all things from Him.

Sarah failed to believe in God’s power when she hatched her plan to help Him out. But now Hagar is desperate- there is no life without God’s intervention.

Sometimes when we are in a place of desperation we need to see God’s provision. We might fear God has not answered our prayer. In those times we need to ask God to open our eyes to see what is already there.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to see the well that you provide, the answer to desperate prayer that is already here. Amen.