FAR, FAR MORE UNITES THAN SEPARATES (GENESIS 21:8-21)

THEME: FAR, FAR MORE UNITES THAN SEPARATES SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 21:8-21 God saves Hagar and Ishmael. REFLECTION The theme for our reflection is ‘far, far more unites than separates.’ The natural phenomenon is that the further one goes the more separated he or she becomes from those he or she is being separated from. It…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Jul 26, 2021

3–5 minutes

THEME: FAR, FAR MORE UNITES THAN SEPARATES

SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 21:8-21

God saves Hagar and Ishmael.

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is ‘far, far more unites than separates.’ The natural phenomenon is that the further one goes the more separated he or she becomes from those he or she is being separated from. It was Sarah’s intention to separate Ishmael from the inheritance of Abraham, his father. Sarah’s seemingly harsh and inconsiderate demand brought grief to Abraham since Ishmael was also his offspring. “But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” And this was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. (Genesis 21: 9-11)

It is important to note that as Sarah wanted Hagar and Ishmael to go far away from Abraham and his inheritance, Ishmael found favour with God and was blessed. We see a manifestation of God’s just nature, His grace and love for the oppressed, voiceless and outcasts. If for nothing at all, Ishmael could stay and the mother driven away since Ishmael was also a son and entitled legally to Abraham’s inheritance but Sarah wanted the poor and innocent child thrown away together with the mother. The key lesson is that human superiors or those stronger than we are, may use their wealth, power and positions to physically separate us from our inheritance, success or what is rightfully our possession but they cannot physically or spiritually separate us from the love, grace and the promises of God upon our lives. But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” (Genesis 21:12-13). God indeed fulfilled His promise to Ishmael in Genesis 12:17-19, “And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

In the same manner, Jesus came into the world to unite those whose sin has cast them far away and separated from their inheritance as children of God. The good news is that with God, far, far more unites us with God than separates us from Him becuase Jesus assures us in Luke 19:9-10 when He said to Zacchaeus who had hitherto been separated from God becuase of sin that, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” We are again inspired with hope and adoration for God when Paul tells us that “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Roman 8:35-37) My dear friend, no matter how far you think your sins have separated you from God, He still loves you. All you need to do is to repent, accept Jesus and confess Him as your Lord and Saviour and be born again. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, no matter how far away you are God’s love and grace awaits you in Christ who is our new and everlasting covenant with God. Shalom

PRAYER

GRACIOUS LORD, UNITE US THROUGH THE POWER AND GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN WE ARE FAR AWAY WONDERING IN THE WILDERNESS OF HOPELESSNESS, MAY YOUR LOVE CONTINUALLY REASSURE US THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THE JOURNEY OF LIFE. AMEN.

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)