“Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation”      Genesis 21:17,18 NIV

Apparently, Ishmael was also praying, weeping, and crying out to the Lord. Most likely, he was asking for forgiveness, knowing that it was his mocking and ridicule that had brought him and his mother to the point of death. The Lord stresses the fact that He heard the voice of Ishmael. He says this two times. This suggests the utter necessity of repentance, of crying out to the Lord to forgive our sins when we have done wrong. It is then that the Lord hears us, for we cannot hide sin in our hearts and expect the Lord to listen! Hagar experienced the Lord’s provision, encouraging her was not to give up. She was to arise, walk over to Ishmael, and lift him into her hands. For the Lord was going to use the young man to found a great nation. Hagar was prompted to act. She had to obey and trust Him before she would see the Lord’s answer to her prayer. So it is with us. We are called to show our trust in the Lord by obeying Him. It is then that we will experience His marvellous provisions. Hagar obeyed the Lord, rising to a new beginning. When she arose and began walking over to Ishmael, the Lord opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. The desperate prayer of repentance and the act of obedience will lead to the Lord’s provision and beginning of something new in our lives.

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, thank You, that repentance and obedience brings Your provision.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, thank You, that in the desperate prayer of repentance and the act of obedience, it leads to Your provision and the beginning of something new in our lives, as it happened with Hagar and Ishmael. AMEN

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Philemon 1:8-18

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