Banish the Mockers!
From a strictly human vantage point, this story is tragic. Sarah's pride, which led to the expulsion of Hagar and Ishamel is staggering. Sending a woman into the wilderness by herself. Of course, she had her son, but years of serving Abraham and Sarah, being sexually taken advantage of by her master, and now this? And, yes, she was granted freedom. But what freedom is better than the guaranteed warm meal and shelter that Abraham could provide. As I look into this situation for divine truth, I don't want to ignore this tragedy. But I must ask what God is saying. Obviously, it was his will that Hagar and Ishmael be "banished." But why? And it is this thought that brings me back to the beginning of this account. Ishmael was laughing during Isaac's weaning. The word literally means "mocking." Thus the heart of God is exposed for his people in this account. God clearly doesn't want our walk with him to be contaminated by mockery. Of course, Christ tells us that mockery (persecution) will come. But I wonder how many idols we tolerate in our lives that mock our weaning faith? Lust tells us to rid ourselves of purity. Greed tells us to organize our lives around possessions. And pride tells us to build our lives on the backs of others. These are the Ishmael's that God despises in our lives, because the mock his promise in our lives - the promise of eternal life, the blessedness of the kingdom, and renewal from sin. Are we willing to banish these mockers in order to ensure that our fledgling faith has a chance to mature?
