God’s Promises – Man’s Trust?
Have you ever read to story of Ishmael? Very interesting. As you may recall Abraham was promised by God to be the father of many, yet in his old age he still did not have any children. One day his wife said, I have an idea, instead of us waiting on God, go have sex with my handmaid and she can have a son. So Abraham did, and she did and wham. Man’s solution to God’s promises. Amazing how we can do that. I mean, take what God promised and work our our on solution to fit that.
Trouble was, Abrahams wife got a little rough with the handmaid when she saw she was pregnant. Probably a little jealous. The treatment got so rough, the handmaid, got her stuff and scooted out the door, quite a few months pregnant. But, God, the way he is, had bigger plans. Even bigger than Abraham or this handmaid thought of. She listened to God, turned around and went back to Abrahams house. And the son, Ishmael, was born to Abraham.
However, Ishmael was not the son God had promised Abraham. It was 14 years later when Isaac was born to Abraham. Now imagine your own teenager. Yea, Ishmael was 14 when his half brother was born. Another couple of years before he was weened. At around the age of 17, one day, Ishmael was making fun of his brother. When Abrahams wife saw that, she said thats it and had Abraham kick Ishmael and his mom out.
I dont know if you were like me, but for some reason, I had always thought that Ishmael was a baby when they got the boot. But he wasnt, he was young man. Imagine living in your fathers house for 14 years and all of the sudden a baby brother comes along. Imagine the tension, to not be the center of life anymore. Even worse, imagine knowing that all that was to be yours was now going to be his! Would you pick on your brother? My kids pick on each other and their is no inheritance!!!
So what is my point? Well along life’s way, I think that we sometimes get ahead of God. Try our own solutions to things. Then we find ourselves staring at the mess and not quite sure what to do. God is amazing. In Ishmaels situation, God spoke to Abraham, “Don’t feel badly about the boy and your maid. Do whatever Sarah tells you. Your descendants will come through Isaac. Regarding your maid’s son, be assured that I’ll also develop a great nation from him—he’s your son, too.” What was menat for Isaac now was to be a part of Ishmaels heritage as well.
God is greater than it all. Made a mess of things? He still wants the best for you. What to do with the mess? Give it to Him. He is pretty good at doing some great things. I think that is what the guy writing proverbs meant when he said, Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Trust can begin at anytime you are willing.
Remember though, trust means letting Him do it His way, not the way you think it should be!
(Gen 16 – 25)
