No time for second-guessing

“Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy.” Genesis 21:14

When it comes to faith, Abraham is the gold standard, isn’t he? After all, this is the guy whose belief in God’s promise was credited to him as righteousness, which was first proclaimed in the original Genesis story and then reaffirmed in three separate New Testament letters. Abraham’s trust meant everything to God and it lives on forever as an example to all of mankind.

Do you know what is particularly amazing about Abraham’s faith, though? Not only did he believe God, he obeyed him immediately.

When God commanded the circumcision of Abraham, the men of his household and his male descendants, Abraham carried out the order “on that very day” (Genesis 17:23). When God told Abraham to send away forever his servant Hagar and his son Ishmael, he said his good-byes “early the next morning” (Genesis 21:14), even though “greatly distressed.” When God tested him by commanding the sacrifice of Isaac, Abraham got up and set forth, again, “early the next morning” Genesis 22:5).

These were no small orders. Personally, I would have taken more time – quite a bit more time, actually – you know, “to pray about it.” When it comes to big steps of faith, my proclivity to ponder downshifts into a disposition to dither. (Can you relate, or is it just me?)

Abraham’s faith exposes my doubt; his actions dwarf my intentions. So I have decided to do something about it ... starting small of course. When people are on my mind, I will pray. When burdens are on my heart, I will reach out in friendship and support. When the Spirit calls me to action, I will offer myself to him.

Will I mess up? Probably, but no more than if I allowed time for second-guessing.

[Read today's Scripture in Genesis 21:1-18.]

Laughing out loud

Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him....  Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”  Genesis 21:6 

On a couple of occasions as a boy, I became overly sensitive to laughter directed my way.  My young mind assumed it was mockery.  Recognizing my misinterpretation, my mother explained, “They aren’t laughing at you, Paul; they’re laughing with you.”  What I understood to be rejection and ridicule was actually friendship and joy.  It was great relief to me at the time and I have come to understand her distinction at a deeper level.  For over the years, I’ve been laughed at and laughed with, and I’ve directed both toward others.

We tend to think of laughter as signifying humor or elation, but this quite often is not the case.  A nervous titter betrays a situational awkwardness or stress, while disrespect trickles out through a snicker.  And oddly enough, it is not uncommon for bitterness or disdain to find its voice in a cackle or a guffaw.  Laughter proceeds from whatever we harbor in our soul. 

Like distrust, for instance.  A year before Isaac’s birth, an eavesdropping Sarah overheard the Lord say to her husband Abraham, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son” (Genesis 18:10).  Sarah laughed.  Hers was not a boisterous burst of joy, but a cynical slip of disbelief.  She laughed at God’s promise. 

Isn’t it good to know that God is patient with us in our times of bitterness?  He is faithful to his word even when our hearts are faithless toward him; he redeems our despair and turns it into hope and joy.  So even though Sarah had laughed at God in doubt, she would laugh again with others in the joy of his grace and an impossible promised fulfilled. 

So we ask ourselves, Do I laugh in contempt from a heart skeptical about God's love or disillusioned by slights from others?  If so, let’s turn in faith to God for forgiveness and rejoice in his promises.  For our God is forever faithful; we will laugh again with him.

“He will yet fill your mouths with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”  Job 8:21

[Click here to see the daily reading in Genesis 21:1-7.]