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Daily Devotion: Genesis 21:9

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Genesis 21:9    "And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking."

To set the stage for this verse, let us remember that the son of Hagar, named Ishmael, was also the son of Abraham. Sarah had given her handmaid to Abraham because neither of them thought Sarah would be able to give birth to a son. It is safe to assume that Ishmael was the son of their fleshly thoughts and actions while Isaac was indeed the son of promise given to them by God. This one verse sets the stage for a history of envy, strife, and warfare which still is going on to this very day. The result of fleshly, carnal actions will always be strife and discontentment. The book of James speaks to us of this principle, "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?" (James 4:1)  It was the impatience and carnal nature that brought about the birth of Ishmael, which resulted in that nature mocking the spiritual.

We have personal battles of this nature within ourselves. We find ourselves in that state of discontentment when we slip into the carnal realm of trying to establish our own actions. Paul spoke of it in the book of Romans chapter 8, "...  the carnal mind is enmity against God...  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:7-8) So much of God's Word is devoted to the warfare that goes on between our minds and our hearts. We want to think we have all the answers or can find the answers for ourselves through human logic. But the truth of the matter is that we have no proper understanding outside of the realm of the Holy Spirit working within us.  Solomon wrote concerning this subject also.  "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)  I find that I save myself from a lot of problems and struggles when I simply give it to the Lord and wait for Him to give the answer. His promise to us is this: "He shall direct thy paths."

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