When It Is Part of God's Plan

So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. Genesis 21:14 (New King James Version)

I have been trying to take in the truths of Genesis 21 throughout last night and into this morning. It is a story that hits home with me and forces me to rethink some conclusions. It is personal because I have experienced a similar scenario in my own life.

Abraham was commanded by God to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Ishmael was his first born son whom he loved deeply and had dreams for. Sending him away entailed a death of those dreams but not of his love. It involved seeing God’s separate plans for him and Ishmael. It displayed a trust that God knew what He was doing and would carry out His plan for both their lives. It demonstrated a harsh reality for me as I read it. God’s plan called for a separation and severance. I cannot imagine the sense of loss, confusion, and feelings of rejection that must have entered the life of Ishmael at that time. I don’t know if he ever saw God’s hand in it or how he ever viewed his father from that point on. But Scripture does tell me that God was with him in the wilderness and made of him a great nation. The loss of his relationship with his father did not mean the loss of God’s plan for his life. It meant the fulfillment of that plan.

I know what it is like to be in relationship with a spiritually significant person. I know what it is like to build hopes and dreams on how that relationship will continue. But I also know the sense of loss, confusion, and feelings of rejection when separation and severance is called for. It feels worse than death and leaves one stripped raw with emotional pain. Yet it is imperative that I see for myself what I see in the story of Ishmael. God has a plan for me and will see that plan through to fulfillment.

For me, that plan entails keeping my eyes on Him and allowing Him to do His work in and through me. He knows that I still desire the relationship He brought to an end. He knows I still battle negative thoughts and feelings. But none of that stops Him from keeping His hand on my life and directing me down the path of His choosing. I am slowly learning to trust Him to finish what He started. I anticipate the day when I experience beauty for ashes and joy for the sadness. Today, the anticipation grows just a little more.

Father, I see my story in Your Word and I long for the completion of that story. Amen.

Beauty For Ashes - Crystal Lewis & Ron Kenoly
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2CZ6IsGjEug

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16