CHANGES IN THE FAMILY

Saturday, September 6, 2008
CHANGES IN THE FAMILY LIFE
Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him (Genesis 21:2)

The birth of his son Isaac developed new situations on the domestic scene. His relationship with Hagar and Ishmael would soon end. His friendship with Lot also ended on an unhappy note. In his lonesome old age, God gave a son to Abraham and with that birth there were drastic changes about to take place at home.

How do you cope being a father at that age? One thing was sure, and Sarah had to make a lot of readjustments. Babies crying uncontrollably in the middle of the night is something all new fathers dread- at least the ones I know. It is doubtful if Abraham was able to play with his new born son.

Isaac is a kind of a withdrawn character. He is actually meditating in the field when Sarah arrives on a camel many years later. But there was one unhappy person at the birth of Isaac which the Scriptures are careful to record, and that was his elder half brother Ishmael. By Isaac’s birth, Ishmael was dispossessed because he was just the son of a maidwoman, with lesser legal rights than the lady of the house Sarah.

But then Sarah noticed something during the great feast for her son Isaac- Ishmaels was mocking at the whole thing. Trouble was brewing at home and with that trouble Abraham had to cut all ties with Hagar and Ishmael. He had to do it for the sake of his wife Sarah and for the sake of family peace.

I think everybody agrees that this world is not a happy place to live in. And a fair portion of our sorrows come from our own blunders. What is the biggest blunders you have made? That you married the wrong person? That you formed a friendship of which you are now regretting? Who can tell us whether next year at this time our family situation would be a happy one or a miserable one? For Abraham that day he was happy because of Isaac. But that happiness was not full because of the upcoming departure of Ishmael.

We cannot have everything in life. And so we are forced to choose in life. Are we prepared to life’s ever changing situations and accept the reality or do we blindly go forward without choosing the better hoping that somehow reality itself would change? Abraham had to readjust. It was necessary in the long run. How does a family stay together when it is quarelling all the time, when there are shoutings and commotions in the late night and the police are called in by irritated neighbours?

Are there situations in your life that you need to readjust? Then readjust you must- you must let Ishmael go. Abraham had grown fond of Ishmael. What are you so fond of that makes hesitate to forward? Ishmael represents the life in the flesh, and Isaac life in the Spirit. Ishmael is the joyful memory of yesterday, reckless decisions and an untamed nature. But now a better than Ishmael is here- Isaac- in whom all Gods promises are carried on. Although those memories with Ishmael were so glorious- still the curtains must come down. God’s purpose for you is not in the old life. Let it go and be prepared to be led into the narrow way of the Kingdom of God.
Posted by vijay at 12:30 AM