AP

Genesis 21:11-13  The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.  But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman.  Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, 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.”

From our historical perspective four thousand years later, this little interaction between God and Abraham is both interesting and challenging.

Abraham was the father of two boys, and his Triune God, who within himself experienced the reality and depth of a Father-Son relationship, obviously understood just how Abraham loved them both.  So he reassured him, promising a wonderful blessing for each of them, and for the two nations that would come from them.  This promise from his faithful God would have brought much comfort to the ageing Patriarch – two separate nations, related by blood, his blood, and enjoying the abundant blessing of his God day by day, generation after generation; now he can relax in the comfort of this promise.

But there was a catch!  In spite of their both receiving God’s promised blessing, only ‘through Isaac [will your] offspring be reckoned”  The verb translated ‘reckoned’ is the ordinary verb root to ‘call’, which has the range of meaning, similar to English, from ‘crying out in public’, ‘announcing’ to just ‘giving someone a name’.  However, the context here shows us that God’s intended meaning in this instance is that he (God) will be known by future generations as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’.  Nevertheless, Abraham would certainly hope that all the future ‘cousins’ would get on well together, rejoicing in their separate blessings, and relating well to one another, rejoicing together.

I have just spent two weeks camping with my five children and their families, and it was truly wonderful watching seventeen cousins (my grandchildren) all interacting together and supporting one another in a close bond of caring fellowship.  Sadly, in the case of Abraham’s two sons however, we see the outworking of their fallen (sinful) human natures; and the competitive envy and self-centredness that had already shown itself in their two mothers, Hagar and Sarah.

The result was ongoing destructive disharmony and bitterness.  We are seeing the fruits of this all too clearly today, not only in that region of the world but throughout every nation as the descendants of Isaac (Jews) and the descendants of Ishmael (Moslems) clash violently.  We have even experienced it here just over a month ago at Bondi Beach.

History has demonstrated conclusively that there is only one possible solution to this ‘irreconcilable’ conflict, and that is the solution that God himself has provided: the only solution to all the problems caused by human sin, and the only solution to the problem of sin itself: Jesus!  Isaac Watts’ interpretation of Psalm 72 says it all: “Blessings abound where’er he reigns: the prisoners leap to lose their chains, the weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest.”  May we be much in prayer to “Let every creature rise and bring the highest honours to our King; angels descend with songs again and earth repeat the loud amen.”

–  Bruce Christian