Footnotes
†21:3: Isaac means “He laughs”.
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The LORD is our hope that will never fail
We must never put our hope in mortal men (Psalms 146:3). In the story of Hagar, she consented to become Abram’s wife, to bear children for Abram and Sarah. She probably believed that, that will ensure her a good life, being the wife of her master, Abram, who was a very rich man.
Little did Hagar expect that she would one day be sent off with her son, Ishmael, to wonder into the wilderness and become a single parent, to shoulder the full responsibilities of raising the son of Abram. It must have been very devastating for her and Ishmael.
Yet the LORD came personally to comfort her, to provide for her, to give her hope and strength to stand up, to take care of her son, to move on in her journey and in her life. The LORD was with Ishmael (Genesis 21:20), He watches over the fatherless (Psalms 146:9).
Our hope should only be on our LORD Jesus, our Maker (Psalms 146:5-9). Our LORD is compassionate and faithful. He will never fail us.
Focus on the LORD's blessings
We can imagine the hurt of Ishmael, changing from a wealthy, well-provided home, filled with servants, to living in the wilderness.
The scriptures stated that God was with the boy (Genesis 21:20). We read a similar description in the story of Joseph that the LORD was with Joseph (Genesis 39:2) and he succeeded in everything. So we know that when God was Ishmael, it meant that Ishmael was protected and he had success in everything. He became an archer and even married an Egyptian girl.
In life, we will meet unfair situations and injustice. However, when we place our trust in God, when God is in our lives, He fill our lives with blessings. God will keep us so busy enjoying life that we take no time to brood over the past (Ecclesiastes 5:20).
It will be a waste of effort and simply a self-inflicting act if we choose to brood over the injustice done to us. Instead we should turn to God and focus on His blessings. The LORD is a compassionate God who watches over the poor (Matthew 5:3, James 2:5), so you can be assured that the LORD will cause so much blessings to come upon you when you suffer injustice. Know that the LORD is a God who brings justice to the earth (Jeremiah 9:24).
Are you wondering…
How to become a believer?
You can be a believer simply by saying this prayer:
Dear God, thank you for so wonderfully make me and thank you for sending your Son, LORD Jesus to die for me so that I can have the blessed life that you intended for me — a life of leadership and fruitfulness. Now I believe and accept Jesus as my LORD and Saviour. I believe that from this time forth, I am a new creation, I am born again and I have the eternal life that Jesus came to give me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
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