“He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” Genesis 16:12 NIV
Ishmael is called a wild man. He would be difficult to handle and would be aggressive towards others. Ishmael represents the difficulties that arise when sin is allowed to divert us from the Lord’s path for our lives. Remember, sin brings its own club. Ishmael is a picture of this truth. As Ishmael grew, the tensions surrounding him grew as well. In other words, the sin of Abram and Sarai, even after many years, still brought heartache and trouble into the home! Our sins, no matter how small and insignificant we may think them to be, always affects us and those around us! They poison our spirit, they sabotage our family, and they hinder our walk with our Lord. The answer to sin is to drag it into the light, Proverbs 28:13. Sin cannot live when it is brought out of the darkness into the marvellous light of the glory of God, John 3:19-21. Even though this sin was accomplished by the will of Abram and Sarai, it was going to be used for the glory of God. Those involved could not see how things would play out in our day. Yet, much of the trouble the world is dealing with, is a direct result of Abram’s sin with Hagar. Nothing, even our sins, catches God by surprise. He can take the worst of our failures and use them for His glory. That is not an excuse for evil. When we have sinned, let us not run from it. Let us return to the Lord in repentance and experience His forgiveness. (1 John 1:9)
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, as we turn to You in repentance we experience Your forgiveness.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, thank You that when we sin, we do not need to run away, but to return to You and Your forgiveness and grace. AMEN
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
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