GENESIS 21 THE HEIR It happened! Just the way the Lord had promised! The promised heir was born and laughter was in the home. I saw as I looked over the past, that everything was done according to God's will and God's word. The birth of the heir was a true type of the One who would come "in the fullness of time" - when God would send His own Son into the world as a miracle child. Sarah could laugh with joy and all who heard her could laugh with her. And I am reminded of an important truth: what God says will happen, is as good as done, even though years may pass before it is accomplished.
There is an interesting effect upon all those that are watching as bystanders when God steps in with power and promise and things start to happen according to His will and timetable. Some will rejoice at the obvious working of God in the lives of others. They will be caused to praise the Lord for His goodness and His wonderful works to the children of men. Other people though, will mock and make comments of derision when God's hand is opened and the changes in a new life are taking place. Even when the Lord was born, there were those who greatly rejoiced and others who wanted to kill Him, even as a child.
I learned from those past events that in this day, there will be those who rejoice over people being born again into the family of God, and others will mock the new birth, reject an obvious work of God, and be antagonistic against those who God saves by His grace. They do not want to see genuine conversions because it exposes the sin and unbelief of their own lives. We are objects of God's sovereign grace. When one walks in the Spirit and another person walks in the flesh, there is conflict and that difference will remain.
I saw the bondwoman and her son, Ishmael, leave Abraham's tent and head out into the wilderness. Abraham was grieved because that son was the son of his flesh. The character of the flesh will always want to exalt self and will seek to put down what is of the Spirit of God. The flesh will indulge itself in a worldly fashion. It may take the form of religious ritual or even legality. When the flesh is refused, it will mean we must exercise self-denial and there will probably be some suffering, but it will ultimately bring blessing in the choices we make. Consequences come from both good and bad decisions.
The great blessing of the birth of the son of promise and the heir of all that was Abraham's, does not remove the difficulties and problems caused by fleshly choices. I hope I learned from watching the struggle of this ancient family, to give the Lord Jesus Christ His true place in my affections and life. I wonder even now, what will be the outcome of my descendants. Will there be the joy of the promises of God being fulfilled? Will there be suffering that comes from following the desires of the flesh and mind?
In my mind, I watched two tribal leaders come together for a frank discussion focusing on how they would deal with each other in the future. Abimelech had rightly reproved Abraham in the past. Now he acknowledges God is with Abraham. There is weight behind the testimony of one who walks by faith, even though we fail from time to time. To refuse the lusts of the flesh and to be willing to separate from the world and its ways has a lasting impact on those who observe our life. People will usually think the same of us even though they recognize our differences. The world and its people admit that God is with His people. They will even appreciate some of what we stand for and some of what we refuse. But the world will still try to bring us under its control by taking away the "wells" of spiritual refreshment. There may be times when they are not content just to let us go along in the ways of righteousness and truth, but will seek to turn us away and into compromising situations. We may have to reprove those who oppose and try to hinder our life for the Lord. When that happens, it is wise to reprove with the spirit of grace and kindness. It must have convicted Abimelech when he was given a substantial gift from Abraham. I may not have seven ewe lambs and oxen to give, but I can give some extra time and attention to those who have sought to trip me up.
And there may be something they will take from even me!
The frailty of age gave way to God-imparted strength, As a son was born promised long before, but now at length He came from God Himself, supernaturally born of God, A foreshadowing, a type of the only unique Son who would come into the world.
But then, as now, when supernatural events take place,
There are people who welcome the joy, others have a different face - Because they feel slighted, skeptical and ill-disposed Toward the one who has come by grace alone, who God Himself chose.
So. walking away from the life of blessing lived by faith, Go those who are of the flesh, and with the life of flesh only keep pace. The work of God in lives like theirs leaves them feeling ill at ease - There is only one way; faith must separate from the flesh of these.
At first that act of separation may leave us sad - Because the flesh got used to all the things it one time had. But to co-exist with the God-life and the world-life can't be done. Two cannot walk together unless they can agree as one.
To watch the sons of the flesh walk away at first is hard. We have been used to self-centered living when the flesh is lord. Even though flesh has been put into the place of death - There will come temptations and pressures to us from the flesh.
Another smooth-talking force nearby is the world. In self-righteous smugness, it had once an accusation unfurled That was dealt with and forsaken quite some time ago - But the world will not hesitate to let us know.
To accommodate to the world is no small thing. Into a bargaining session, the world will bring Suggestions that the problem between us is our fault, And we must make sure the world gets all it wants.
There is a necessity of those who live by faith, to reprove the world. The world loudly proclaims its innocence with protesting words. The only way to deal with this is for each to go their own way, And when the world invites you to come, you just turn away.
The time may come when an overture of grace is fine. It never is out of season for us to lost souls to be kind. Possibly the result will be that some from the world will leave, And in personal faith in the Lord, come to get what you already have.
"Lord God, may I always remember there are enemies that oppose those who know Thee and want to serve Thee. Please give us the wisdom and will to not give place to the devil, not yield to the temptations of the flesh, and to not turn aside into the world. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."