Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. (Galatians 4:28-31)
Sarah created a messy situation with Hagar and Ishmael by telling Abraham to sleep with Hagar. Ishmael, her son, was jealous of Isaac and mocked him, so Sarah told Abraham to get rid of the slave woman and her son. After reading the story in Genesis 21, one might think Sarah was cruel and should be the one banished. Hagar didn’t deserve rape.
But we are all Abrahams and Sarahs, making huge mistakes. We pass our tempers, addictions, prejudices, and sometimes dark cultures onto future generations. But God gives mercy to all—the parents of his chosen people, Ishmael, and us.
God made Ishmael the father of the Arab nation after Abraham prayed for him.
Since the prophet Muhammed traced his lineage back to Abraham and Hagar, it is said that Abraham fathered three religions—Jewish, Christianity, and Muslim. Like Ishmael, many Muslims persecute Jews and Christians. Like Sarah, many Jews and Christians hate Muslims.
So God reminds us that we are children of freedom through Jesus and grace. No one can threaten our salvation or inheritance of living in God’s kingdom, so we have no reason to hate. God challenges us to love one another because when we love, we are free and don’t break laws.
Father, I praise you for making me and my offspring children of your promise. When I feel persecuted, help me love and not hate, so people will know I’m your child. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Today I am thinking about loving, instead of hating, someone that I don’t always get along with. This has been a real problem for me, and I am not sure how to move forward in a more positive way. Loving always feels better than hating. Hate is a strong word and I don’t even like using it. So, I dislike feeling this way even more. I am not strong enough to do this without the help of God. God is the only one who can turn my negative feelings around. I feel like I need a whole lot of grace right now for the way I have been feeling and thinking.
God, please grant me grace and peace and a loving feeling in my heart and brain, instead of negativity. I want to be a loving person and not a hateful person. Thank you for forgiving my sins, when sometimes I don’t feel that I deserve forgiveness. Thank you for your recent answers to prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God does what you can’t do. You can pray for and do something nice for that person. God will honor that and help change you and the person you dislike. Who knows, God may help you lead this person to Jesus because he’ll want to be more like you.