“God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”
Both Abraham and Sarah scoffed at laughed at God’s plan, but now that it has come true and a son has actually been born, their laughter is of a different sort. The infectious, everybody thinks we’re crazy because we’re always so happy, sort.
But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking…
Mocking at a celebration for his brother? Well that’s not very nice. You would think that after all the drama it took just for him to get to grow up in this house, he’d be on his best behavior now that the ‘real’ son of promise is around. I mean, Sarah has made it pretty clear that she doesn’t really like him or his mother, and this just pushes her over the edge.
The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.
Well he’s stuck in a nasty situation, isn’t he? On one hand he has a son that he wants to take care of and be a father to, but on the other hand he has Sarah demanding he and his mother be sent away. Luckily God is hanging around, and he reminds Abraham that Isaac is the chosen son, and while he has promised to bless Ishmael as well, Abraham doesn’t need to be worried about sending him away.
And just like that, Hagar’s back wandering the desert about to die again, and God shows up to take care of her again. He comes with comfort, encouragement, and promises, affirming to Hagar that not only will Isaac be great, but her son Ishmael will also be a great nation.
Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.
Poof. Water. Sometimes you just have to stop looking, and let God show you.
“God is with you in everything you do.”
So we’re back to Abraham, and we see that even after all the shenanigans with Sarah and everything, he’s back on track, and something is just different about his life. And people notice. Of course, it’s cool when people come tell you they see God at work in everything you do, but maybe not so nice when they’re having to come beg you to deal fairly with them because of your deceit in the past…Anyways, Abraham and Abimelech sort out a treaty, and agree to remain straight and upstanding guys with each other.
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.
Abraham and his trees…It seems like everywhere he goes he finds, or in this case plants, a tree. He always wants a specific place to worship. And he doesn’t just want something private, but rather a landmark that other people can use, as well as a symbol of what he believes and stands for. This is probably just me, but it seems like Abraham would be one of those guys that would cover his car with Jesus bumper-stickers, decorate his house with fish symbols, and build a giant alter in the front yard for sacrifices. You know?
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