David Bahn – Reflections

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The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. ⁹ But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, ¹⁰ and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”

¹¹ The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. ¹² But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. ¹³ I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”

¹⁴ Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

¹⁵ When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. ¹⁶ Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.

¹⁷ God heard the boy crying,and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. ¹⁸ Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” – Genesis 21:8-18 

Do you ever get tired of doing good? Doing the right thing? Helping someone who is in trouble? Responding to the latest human tragedy? Giving to relieve the latest natural disaster victims? It’s called compassion fatigue. And it moves some of us simply to tune out the pleas. The heart-wrenching photo of the child with the cleft pallet. The African toddler with pleading eyes  and a distended belly due to starvation. We can’t help them all, so we help those we can and tune out the others. Perhaps we pray for them. Maybe we even decry the fact that groups will play on our emotions to gain financial support. 

But God does not do any of that. In fact, while he comes to the aid of Hagar, he also has a greater deliverance – once and for all – in store for lost, broken, desperate, and distressed mankind. But the end has not yet come. We have a lifetime – however long that may be – in front of us until that redemption is consummated. And God has people in place to help us along the way. 

He will send Hagar away, but Abraham will see to it that she is not sent away empty-handed. And when the food and water runs out, Hagar sits crying, and Ishmael is put far away to die. In that moment God calls her to continue on, and promises that even Ishmael will have a great future. 

The final deliverance is yet to come. But when the time is right, Jesus will offer himself as the fulfillment of all that God intends and then die as the substitute for all that we have failed to do, or all that is amiss that we have done, said, or thought. Through Jesus, God will reclaim that which is rightfully his, restore us to a place of honor and holiness, and we will rejoice for all eternity in his lovingkindness and grace. 

There will be times of sadness and distress along life’s way. We may be put into difficult and near hopeless situations. At those times, the slightest breeze can cool our sweaty brows, and a kindness of someone may be as a cup of refreshing water. Then we must take courage, stand again, and move forward with the assurance of God’s presence, and the hope of the ultimate deliverance.

I’m wondering who will bring that refreshing cup of water to me today. And I’m thankful for Jesus who give me grace and hope.

The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. ⁹ But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, ¹⁰ and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”

¹¹ The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. ¹² But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. ¹³ I will make the son of the slave into a nationalso, because he is your offspring.”

¹⁴ Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

¹⁵ When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. ¹⁶ Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.

¹⁷ God heard the boy crying,and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. ¹⁸ Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” – Genesis 21:8-18

Don’t ever let them see you sweat…So they say. The idea being that if people see your weak spots they’ll take advantage of you. They’ll go for your weak spot. You’ll be passed over as a weakling. 

Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). 

Emotions withheld, repressed, and denied will inevitably erupt. Sometimes at a very inopportune moment. Sometimes resentment builds and such resentment comes out against those we love most. 

It seems that Hagar is not so much taking Jesus’ advice. Nor is she repressing her distress. She is simply mourning her difficult plight. She has been kicked out of Abraham’s household. She has a young child. She has no way to care for or provide for this child. She has no one to turn to. For that reason she neither needs to hide her emotions. Nor does she need to let her true feelings out. 

But that’s not quite the whole story. The whole story is the story of God. It’s inevitably about God’s love and care for all people. But note well: God has a special place in his heart for widows an orphans. It shows up here. Hagar is distressed. And she lets it out. The only one who can see at this moment is God. And he does see. 

Whatever your plight, let God see. Those who never let other see them sweat, who never let their pain be known, or never become vulnerable, will also never find the comfort that Jesus promises. But when we become vulnerable before him, we will find true comfort. Hagar experiences this. God promises it to us as well. 

Portions from various Psalms for your personal meditation and edification on this Lord’s Day

Psalm 26:8

O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
    and the place where your glory dwells.

Psalm 56:3-4

When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
⁴ In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

Psalm 86:3-5

Be gracious to me, O Lord,
    for to you do I cry all the day.
⁴ Gladden the soul of your servant,
    for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
⁵ For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
    abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Psalm 116:12-19

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The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. ² She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. ³ And Abraham named their son Isaac. ⁴ Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. ⁵ Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.

⁶ And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me. ⁷ Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”  – Genesis 21:1-7

I had an epiphany. It was at a conference sponsored by a large church with a very successful ministry. They had previously hosted hundreds of people for these conferences. But this time, there were fewer than 30 in attendance. But you would never know it. The worship leaders and the presenters never apologized for the lack of attendance. A good reminder: Why worry about who isn’t there? Focus on those who are there! I’ve tried to keep this in mind. 

But that wasn’t the epiphany. Somehow during this conference I was convicted of something several of us struggled with. We all wanted to be in large successful churches. Gifted staff. Powerful programs. Impressive facilities. We were envious. We had no idea of what we were really wishing for. But somehow God broke through. I realized that all the successful churches, ministries, programs, buildings, and staff teams didn’t belong to only that one congregation. These were all kingdom resources. I didn’t need to own them. I didn’t have to claim them as mine. 

God led me to 1 Corinthians 3:21-23

So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you—²² whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, ²³ and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. 

I’ve tried to keep that in mind as time has gone on. Any success I’ve experienced is to God’s glory, and not to my credit or certainly not for my personal (selfish) use. And when I see any kingdom success – large or small churches impacting lives and saving souls – I rejoice. With the angels. With the redeemed. With the laborers. 

Sarah hints at that here: “All who hear about this will laugh with me,” she says. I hope they did. I hope there was a gaggle of laughter that went on for days. Chortling and cooing, giggling and tittering. Joy experienced and shared. 

If we’re consumed with our own desires, and constantly worried about getting our due, we’ll forfeit joy. If we see the good things others experience as testimony to God’s goodness and grace, rather than resenting them for their good fortune we’ll begin to touch the edge of joy. When we celebrate God’s goodness to others with them, we come even closer. And when we see that God’s goodness is the source of every good gift, we will find true joy. 

I hope you join the laughter and the celebration. God is good!

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The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. ² And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. ³ Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. ⁴ And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. ⁵ Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. ⁶ And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” ⁷ And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” – Genesis 21:1-7

There have been a few times. Few. But there have been times when the kidding and good-natured jesting at my expense approached disrespectful unkindness. Maybe you’ve felt that too. I have been known to make myself an easy target. I don’t tend toward pretension. I don’t think of myself as all that much. Sometimes when people’s opinion of themselves is too high they can be the subject of ridicule. Often it’s behind their backs. But a low profile can make you an easy target for those who make themselves feel better by putting others down. 

Sarah seems to have just the right mixture of humility and self-deprecation together with an awareness of her unique status as a 75-year-old new mother. Embarrassed? Anxious? Relieved? Excited? Self-conscious? All we know for certain is that Sarah makes the point of saying that people will now laugh with her. Who would have thought it?!? How can this be?!!? Did they really…??? That’s enough to make most people blush. 

Previously Isaac’s name has been stipulated ((Genesis 17:17-19. In Genesis 18:12-15 Sarah is confronted about her dismissive attitude toward the promise of God. Now, however, God turns a gentle rebuke into an occasion for joy. I can imagine that there was a good bit of joy in their hearts on this occasion. The laughter was certainly joyful and awe-inspired. 

When was the last time you laughed because God brought joy to your heart? It need not take bearing a child at the age of 75 to bring joy. In fact, joy is a byproduct of hope, community, and grace. When God’s grace visits us, and we enjoy that grace in the community of others who know the blessing of grace, hopes are kindled for a better tomorrow. And that brings true joy.

Perhaps we need to reclaim such joy. That’s God’s gracious gift. It’s best shared in community (“everyone who hears will laugh…”). It brings us hope for a future pure and eternal joy founded in Jesus and celebrated together with all who see God’s gracious hand at work in our lives. 

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The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. ² And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. ³ Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. ⁴ And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. ⁵ Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. ⁶ And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” ⁷ And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” – Genesis 21:1-7

Maybe it’s a prayer for a wayward child. It could be you’ve asked God for a mate. You might have prayed for a new job. Or a better boss. Or financial relief. Or healing. God’s answer is not always, “Yes.” Sometimes he says, “No.” The time isn’t right. The request isn’t right. You are not right with him or someone else. He says, “No.” Not because he does not love you. But because he does. 

Sometimes God says, “Grow.” The time may be right. The request might not be wrong for a more mature person. Or it may spring from an immature heart. It might be a selfish request. It could be something you cannot handle at this time. God, in effect, says, “Grow up. Become more mature.” Not, “Yes.” Not, “No.” Just, “Grow a little before I give you this.” He might also say, “Slow down. Not so fast. Wait a while.” Maybe the world isn’t ready for what you’ve asked for.

But sometimes God comes through. Although the language seems dangerous. It’s not like God ever is not able to do whatever needs to be done. It’s not like if he doesn’t act we have no hope. It’s just that from our perspective, God comes through. He shows up. Or better yet, we see his answer, and it aligns with his promise or our request. 

You get the job. You meet the special one. The boss has a change of heart. A check arrives in the mail. The disease is cured. God comes through. 

This is what happens here in these few verses. God comes through for Abraham and Sarah. Isaac is born. It is a joyful time. God be praised. This is something to be celebrated. God is to be credited. We give him the glory.

But much of this Abraham and Sarah narrative is not about the delivery of the promised child. It is about the struggles, foibles, and setbacks that come along the way. Life is not a series of yay God days, one after the other for most people. We can easily identify with Abraham and Sarah in their times of testing, waiting, struggling, questioning, and nearly giving up hope. The Bible is clear about that.

The biblical record is also clear about God’s good will and trustworthy nature in those times of waiting. God will make good on the good things he has promised. 

What promise are you waiting for? Trust, wait, and hope in God. What promise have you seen realized in your life? Give him the glory, keep the memory of that in your heart, and let it be known that God came through for you. 

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Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. ⁹ Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” ¹⁰ And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” ¹¹ Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ ¹² Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. ¹³ And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

¹⁴ Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. ¹⁵ And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” ¹⁶ To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” ¹⁷ Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. ¹⁸ For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

The Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Step Program works. From it’s essential first step: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol [or any other addiction]—that our lives had become unmanageable. To its breakthrough 12th step: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. This process has helped countless men and women conquer the demonic oppression of addictions of all kinds. 

The other steps may seem less transformational. But they are all important. At a LINC-sponsored Hispanic ministry in Fort Worth, I saw how steps four and five were being leveraged in a powerful way. Centered in Jesus Christ and supported by the church there, people were coming to grips with their moral failings and admitted to another human being what they had done. Confession is a powerful and freeing thing.

It’s also a biblical thing. James instructs, “Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another” (James 5:16). John says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9). 

I love how this is played out in the situation between Abimelech and Abraham and Sarah. There is no hiding the fact that sin had been committed. Although Abimelech had not “approached” Sarah, there had been deception, and a dangerous path was afoot. And everyone had excuses for his behavior. Nevertheless Abimelech did what he could to rectify the situation. He returned Sarah to Abraham, and provided gifts meant to show his and Sarah’s innocence.

On some level you’d have to say that Abimelech made it right. And God healed Abimelech and his wife and the women of his household. Because Abraham prayed for him, much had been and subsequently was set aright. 

This is the goodness, righteousness, faithfulness, justice and mercy of God. And although we may not need to be in a 12 Step program, we all have hurts and addictions small and great that need God’s touch of grace and healing. You may need to start with step 1, grapple with steps 4 and 5 (cuarto y quinto), help someone in the same manner you have been helped, or somewhere in between. There is a path to walk with God and he will be with you every step of the way.

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From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. ² And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. ³ But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” ⁴ Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? ⁵ Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” ⁶ Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. ⁷ Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” – Genesis 20:1-7 

“They say we preach best what we need most. If that’s the case, hang on, for you’re in for a hum dinger today!” That’s how a pastor began his message at a pastors conference two decades ago. He must really have needed grace and truth. He brought it. Maybe you’re in for a hum dinger today as well. 

For your personal meditation and edification on this Lord’s Day. All Scripture quotes are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.

Psalm 19:1-3, 14

The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky aboveproclaims his handiwork.
² Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
³ There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    be acceptable in your sight,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 49:12-15

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From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. ² And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. ³ But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” ⁴ Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? ⁵ Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” ⁶ Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. ⁷ Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” – Genesis 20:1-7

One commentator writes about this incident:

Abraham’s concern was probably not because Sarah looked like a young beauty at 90 years of age. We can surmise that she was reasonably attractive at that age, but more importantly she was connected to one of the richest and most influential men of the region. In that day, a harem was sometimes more of a political statement than a romantic statement.

At the same time, we should not ignore the idea of Sarah’s continued attractiveness even in old age. “She had in some measure been physically rejuvenated, in order to conceive, bear, and nurse Isaac, and possibly this manifested itself in renewed beauty as well” (Morris).

Abraham and Sarah succumb to the same temptation that is recorded in Genesis 12:10-13. Now more than 25 years later, they try the same scheme. Abraham’s and Sarah’s fear and forgetfulness conspire to take this path of deceit. Thankfully that path is cut short by God. His intervention takes the form of the dream of Abimelech, and the stern warning to him. Why not Abraham? Why not Sarah? It is not clear. What is clear, however, is that the intervention works and Sarah is restored to Abraham, and this episode passes. Another chapter in the long saga of a fallen man of faith. 

There are certain temptations that seem more aligned with certain years of life. In our younger years, we may be tempted more toward impatience, self-indulgence, or excessive partying. In our middle years, we may be tempted toward self-sufficiency, smugness, or blindness to others’ needs. In our older years temptations of self-righteousness, laziness (“I’ve put in my time…”), or resentment can beset us. But all these sins and temptations can visit us at any time.

Age is no guarantee of spiritual maturity or of godly behavior. Nor does it exempt us from temptations of the flesh. It may not be quite the same as in our younger years, but temptations still come. Thankfully by the power of the Holy Spirit we can resist temptation. And in the rich grace of God, we find forgiveness and restoration. 

I take great comfort in seeing how God does not abandon Abraham, nor disqualify him because of this sin. For if sin would disqualify any of us, we would have no hope. As it is, we repent daily, and rejoice in God’s faithfulness and love, and get back on the path he has for us as his servants.