Genesis 21:9 Sarah saw Hagar’s son laughing, the one Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham. 10 So she said to Abraham, “ Send this servant away with her son! This servant’s son won’t share the inheritance with my son Isaac. ” 11 This upset Abraham terribly because the boy was his son. 12 God said to Abraham, “ Don’t be upset about the boy and your servant. Do everything Sarah tells you to do because your descendants will be traced through Isaac. 13 But I will make of your servant’s son a great nation too, because he is also your descendant. ”
Women are women. We are the same, yesterday and today. That is because our humanity dictates that we all respond similarly. Our common knee-jerk reaction to those who would threaten our well-being is exactly this... We scratch and claw to make sure no one messes with us. Now this territorial tendency multiplies exponentially when we factor in our maternal instinct. "Mess with my kin, and you incur unfathomable wrath!" Funny, but true.
So no one would really think twice about Sarah's response to her husband's bastard son. Why, it seems that even God Himself condones her actions and simply appeases Abraham in his misery. But if we REALLY think about it, this may be another case of God's "concession to your hard hearts."*
Today, I indulge in "What if's". What if Sarah had extended kindness and reared Ishmael together with her son? What if, by this act of kindness, a friendship as that between David and Jonathan had formed between Isaac and Ishmael? What if... Then the repercussions would be unimaginable in our day and age. I would dare to think that the World Trade Center may still be standing.
Of course, the odds that the two brothers would grow up without enmity are desperately low. But the expected outcome should not deter us from 'doing the right thing'. What is impossible with man is possible with God, even the taming of a woman's wrath.
Lord, help me to realize that my instincts my not be the best thing to follow. Please keep me on alert regarding my knee-jerk reactions as a mother, a wife and a fallen human. I ask your Holy Spirit to be my guide, so I may go against human nature, and actually be a bestower of kindness to those who are my enemies. Help me to see beyond the generations. Help me to be a "blessing to the nations, rather than a bane." Help me to love as you have loved us.
*Mark 10:5
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