“God Knows the Big Picture”

Genesis 21:1-13

 

As we continue to read through the book of Genesis we are doing our best to understand each individual story within the context of the narrative. In the previous chapter Abraham and Sarah traveled to Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. Abraham again tried to use the “Sarah is my sister” trick to keep himself alive. God had to intervene by using the pagan king Abimelech as the intercessor. Abraham not only seems to get away with it, but he also secures a great deal of wealth. But like before, we will soon see that this ill gotten gain will soon catch up with him. In the meantime, Abimelech offered Abraham to live anywhere he liked. 

 

Today, we read that while there Sarah gives birth. 

 

The narrator begins this story intentionally telling us three things that happen to Sarah and for each thing we are told that Yahweh said each thing was going to happen. Had the narrator wanted to simply provide information, once would have been enough. However, by stating this three times the reader is encouraged to consider what importance is being addressed. 

 

We continue to read that Abraham named the son Isaac and eight days after, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. We are also told that Abraham was 100 years old when this occurred. 

 

Next we hear from Sarah, verse 6, 

 

“Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” 

 

Stop for just a moment. 

Has laughter been a positive motif? 

If you recall, God told Abraham and Sarah that they would name their son “Laughter” to always remember that they didn’t believe Him. When Sarah laughed in the tent we were told it was a sign of unbelief. At first reading we may think, “Oh, we are so happy for Sarah.” Isn’t that what Sarah has been praying for since we met her? The very first thing we read about Sarah back in chapter 11 was that she was unable to have children. At the time Sarah lived, not being able to have children was a painful experience. So on one level we are celebrating with her. But notice the next thing Sarah says, verse 7.

“Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

We were just told “who would have said.” In fact, just in case we may have forgotten we were reminded three times “who would have said.” 

The narrator uses repetitive language to demonstrate that the birth of this child depicts both happiness and a shadow of that happiness. As soon as Sarah received what she had been asking for, how quickly she forgot the giver.

Check in time. 

We do this all the time. How many times have you been given something or been able to do something you at one time thought was near to impossible, you had been praying to God for it for what may have seemed eons, only to respond, once you received it with, 

“Who would have thought, this would happen?” 

Rather than, 

“Thank you LORD!” 

I’m willing to give Sarah the benefit of the doubt. I can look back over the times this has happened in my life. I pray for something that to me seems impossible. I keep praying but it doesn’t happen. 

Then in all honesty, I stop praying as much because it just doesn’t seem to be God’s will. When God in His timing and His mercy answers the prayer. By the time the prayer is answered, and I haven’t been continually praying, I, like Sarah, would say, “Who would have thought this would have happened?” Yet, God sees the big picture and has thought it all along. Eventually I get around to thanking God for all that I have.  

I have learned, like Paul, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Back to our story. 

Abraham and Sarah finally have a son. The child grew up and was weaned. Abraham was so excited he decided to have a big party, a feast! We are experiencing an Eden moment! 

Wait for it!

Verse 9, “But Sarah saw….”

Ding, ding, ding! Bells should be ringing!

This is one word in Hebrew, two in English. By this time when we read the words, “She saw” we should be trained to think, “Oh no, something terrible is going to happen.” 

What does Sarah see? 

This is where our English translations have difficulty. There is an odd usage of a Hebrew word in this sentence so translators have different translations because they are trying to find a way to make sense of it and trying to translate it in a way that makes sense in English. Often when the Hebrew has been worded in an odd way it’s because the narrator is trying to hyperlink back to something. In this case, our translations have “mocking” or “making fun” but actually that is not what the word means. It means “to cause laughter.” The ESV has “laughing” which is closer. 

No translation is perfect so it’s good to read multiple translations so when you read something like this, your little “hyperlink” trigger should alarm. 

So, Sarah sees the son who didn’t bring her laughter, making laughter. Now, didn’t Sarah say she wanted people to laugh with her? Well, yes, but not everyone, especially not the son who represents competition to her son. It’s the son that she doesn’t like, who is laughing. It’s the son that is in competition with her son, named Laughter.  

Notice her response, verse 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.”

Rivalry! This time it’s not brothers, but mothers. We are smack dab, right back in Eden, in fact, one of these sons will be banished from Eden because of rivalry. 

Ding, ding, ding! Ring a bell? Genesis 3 all over again. And who gets banished? The older son, the non-chosen one. Just like Cain. 

But here’s the twist. 

Who’s the jealous, selfish one? The chosen one. It’s a swap. Sarah has become Cain and Hagar and Ishmael were the innocent victims. 

If you haven’t come to realize this yet, you should by now. We tend to think the chosen ones are the good guys and the non-chosen ones are the bad guys. The biblical authors have none of that. More often than not, the chosen ones are the bad guys and sometimes they are the good guys. And just as often, the non-chosen ones are good guys. We just saw that in the Abimelech story. At this point, the non-chosen is about to be banished because of the jealous anger of the chosen. 

Here we go again! What is God going to do? The behaviour of His chosen one puts Him in a very difficult position. God has to honor His promise. God promised that Abraham’s son with Sarah would be the one to inherit. But He also promised to bless and take care of Ishmael.

As for Abraham, we read in verse 11,

“The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.”

He’s heartbroken. Notice God’s response, verse 12, 

“Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you…”

Wait a minute! This is a double hyperlink.

Hyperlink #1 - We heard this in Genesis 16, Sarah said, “You know, I can’t stand this slave woman.” So Abraham said, “Yeah, do what’s good in your eyes.” What was good in Sarah’s eyes? Sarah oppressed Hagar. 

Hyperlink #2 - Genesis 3, “But he listened to the voice of his wife” in this instance, the very thing frustrates God because Adam listened to the voice of his wife. 

What a conundrum! What is Abraham to do? 

He’s to listen to God’s voice, and do whatever God says. Why? Because God knows the big picture.  

Continuing with verse 12 and verse 13, God says, 

“...because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”

Sarah means this for evil. But think about it, for Hagar, this is her ticket to freedom. She has had to live under Sarah’s eye for the past 14 years. God promises to take care of them. Although on the outside this situation looks evil, and it looks like Hagar and Ishmael are toast, but, God uses it for good. 

Joseph states it this way in Genesis 50, 

“... “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”

We have a scene where there is no good option. There is an okay option and a worse option. Let’s go with the okay one. God is using Sarah’s evil as a severe mercy, which allows Hagar and Ishmael their freedom to go. It’s God being involved in the mess of broken human relationships. In fact, that is what God does best. He steps into our mess of broken human relationships and offers mercy. 

 

Lord’s Supper.