Lesson from our Session…………………………..
MONDAY
(Genesis 21:13) “As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.”
Abraham had to send Ishmael away at least temporarily. When Abraham died at the age of 175, both Ishmael and Isaac attended his burial (Genesis 25:9). Because Ishmael was Abraham’s son, God promised to make a great nation of him also (some of Ishmael’s descendants are listed in Genesis 25).
Though the way of salvation in Jesus the Messiah would be traced through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God blessed Ishmael with knowledge of the true God and numerous descendants because of Abraham. Ishmael could choose to pass on the knowledge of the true God to his children (Abraham had Ishmael circumcised in obedience to God, and presumably Abraham taught Ishmael about the true God: Genesis 17:23).
Lesson: God’s plan to bless one does not preclude His ability to bless another (Gen. 21:12-13)
Reflection: How like us to be more enamored with our blessings that those of others. We tend to look upon them with envy or resentment. We should never forget that God is actively engaged in the lives of those around us in ways we will never know. Their blessing may well be a part of God’s plan.