Genesis 21:14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba.
Abraham was distressed over the matter. What was he to do? He loved Hagar and Ishmael. Sarah wanted them to leave, but how could he just cast them away, forget them like they never existed. Now the Lord told him they must go. He wanted to obey the Lord, but he loved them... Yet, he knew what he had to do. He loved the Lord more than them and wanted to obey him. So, caring for Hagar and Ishmael, he put together a package of sorts, supplies for the road, if you will. His "wife" and child must be cast out, but that didn't mean he couldn't send them away with love. Surely, he would never forget them, but they could not stay. And, so they left, never to return.
What things have occurred in our lives that should never have been, things that God did not approve of? What are we to do? How can things be made right again? Certainly, that will be different for the varied situations that we have gotten ourselves into, yet in all of these situations we must seek the Lord and his solution to them. Typically, it brings us to a crisis point and creates distress in our lives. It weighs heavy on our hearts but we want to obey the Lord so we make the hard decision and follow the Lord's directive.
A and K, There will come circumstances in your lives where you must make the decision; will I follow what I love or will I follow the Lord who I want to love. It would be great if, when you are saved, Satan would go away and we would never have to choose again. But, that is not the case. As long as the earth exists, sin will abound. There is a time coming, however, when sin bound and thrown into a fiery abyss, when a new heaven and new earth come without sin and sorrow (Revelation 21:4). You want to be there for sure!
Daughters, I pray that you will stay close to God and not realize the hardship of fighting your inner self which brings distresses like it did for Abraham. Sanctification is crucifying self and being totally committed in all areas of your life. It will keep you from such struggles. But, if you do succumb to carnal desires, remember that Christ has defeated sin and you can too. He will give you a greater desire for him and his way than what drew you away in the first place, if you seek him with all your heart, mind and soul (Mark 12:30). Spend your time with him, even as you do the everyday tasks of life, then you will love him more than the thing that draws you away and you will know what to do... send the slave woman and her son packing never to return!
~Dad
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