What a mess for Abraham in this passage because he didn't trust God. What a mess for Hagar and Ishmael because of Abraham. Sometimes, more often than we care to admit, we create crises for ourselves. When we fail to obey or trust God's way. But in this case, Abraham's lack of faith and decision to take matters into his own hands affected the lives of at least two other people, possibly four other people and maybe his whole community. You have to think at least his servants/employees were affected. In fact, we're all feeling it today. Who said you can live however you want without affecting others? No man is an island. Our actions, behavior always affects someone else.
I like Stuart Briscoe's insights on these verses. He writes, "After Hagar had left Ishmael under a tree so she would not have to watch him die, she sat down a little way off. Both mother and son were crying, alone with their own agonies. But apparently there was a difference! Hagar cried uncontrollably, while Ishmael managed to turn his tearstained face Godward. 'God heard the boy crying.' Tears talk, but we also should try to talk to God through our tears. God responded to Ishmael's prayer.
"By now Ishmael was far too weak to help himself. His life was nearly spent, but God had heard his prayer and suggested that Hagar quit crying and open her eyes to the possibilities around her. She dried her tears then and saw that there was a well right under her very nose. She had not seen it before because she had been crying so hard.
"Does Hagar remind you of us? We get so self-absorbed when we are in the depths of despair that sometimes we miss God's marvelous provision. Prayer is a weapon we seldom use enough in our fight to survive. It is too often replaced by tears of trauma and terror which dim our sight so we cannot see God's answer to our dilemmas."
God, I confess I'm good creating my own messes. I'm not so good at cleaning them up. Anytime I fail to trust you, trouble is almost always sure to follow. Not only am I affected but the people around me also feel it. My messes sometimes spill over on to them and now they too have a mess to deal with. Thanks God for keeping an eye on us and for being there we need to call upon you. Help me get over myself, even when someone else's mess is dumped on me and now I have a mess. Help to quit wallowing in self pity and look to you.
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