Daily Devotions
Genesis
"Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, 'The Lord be magnified!'" Psalm 40:16
Text: Genesis 21:1-34
IN DESPERATE STRAITS
What lay ahead of Hagar? What kind of future could she hope for? Though times were unhappy in Abraham’s household, she could at least enjoy safety. She would not need to worry about food, clothing or shelter. But out in the wilderness, what could she hope for? Hagar must have felt a little sorry for herself as she gazed at the empty water-skin, and her empty hands. The bread was all gone too.
“And the water in the skin was used up,
and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs.
Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance
of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, ‘Let me not see
the death of the boy.’ So she sat opposite him,
and lifted her voice and wept.”GENESIS 21:15-16
“And the water in the skin was used up”
As long as there was water, there was always a sense of hope. Without water in the wilderness, the greatest of hope could be dashed to pieces! Hagar was in almost total despair!
“Let me not see the death of the boy”
Which mother could bear to see the death of her son? Which mother could stay away if her boy lay a-dying! Hagar was deeply torn in her heart. Nearly crazed with worry, she did not know what to do! She felt that Ishmael would die soon! She could not bear to see her son die! She went a little distance from him, so that she would not see the last throes of death of her son. Yet, she could not tear herself away from her Ishmael. How could she? The future looked bleak, for was she not a slave, and therefore the fate of her son would be affected? Yet, surely life was better than this slow lingering death that Ishmael was experiencing?
“And lifted up her voice and wept”
At last Hagar did what she should have done in the first place! She should have called upon the Lord in faith – even if that is but desperate faith. Driven to extremities, her soul cried out.
She did not need eloquent words to make herself understood by God. Her tears were her special prayers. Would the Angel of the Lord come to her rescue again?
THE VERY BEST THING TO DO IN DESPERATE SITUATIONS!
What is the very best thing to do when one is found in desperate situations? Surely, the soul knows the answer! To lie down to await the so-called inevitable only invited death to approach with a triumphant leer on his face. The better answer is to cry out to God with whatever faith that cane be mustered! No cry of faith to God would ever go unheeded!