Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Devotion - Tuesday, February 2

This morning I read Genesis 21.  It is the story of the birth of Isaac.  He is born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age.  Sarah had worried she might not bear a son, so she had asked Abraham to father a child with the servant, Hagar.  After the birth of Isaac, Sarah changes her attitude toward Hagar and her son, and asks Abraham to send the child and his mother away.  Which Abraham does.

This story is often looked to as the divide between the people who are Jewish and  those who become Islamic.  God promises to look out for both of these children.  God promises to make a great nation of both these sons of Abraham.

There develops hatred and jealousy within the household of Abraham.  This is unfortunate.  There often develops such emotions within families.

Sometimes these negative emotions succeed in dividing families.  This is surely displeasing to God.

While we may set ourselves against other family members, we cannot erase the bond that exists between us.  We do not cease to be family.

The children of God have become too divided, and we have ignored our oneness in this family.  God's assurances to his children is even if their parents don't do the right thing, God will make sure to provide for all His children.  The children can start over and respond differently than their parents did.

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