We Walk By Faith…..

When we think we have things figured out and start to get a “big head”, be careful. When we don’t have a clue on what to do and start going on our own path, be careful. For it’s not until God opens our eyes that we truly see, clearly enough to continue. The point here is this: don’t allow self-confidence or despair to rob you of life. Stay close to God. It’s the only way believers can make it through this life. We walk by faith. I’m certain Abraham told Hagar and Ishmael that God promised to make his descendants into a great nation as well. So when Hagar and her son were exiled away, she reached her breaking point. She lost focus in her circumstances. The urgency of the immediate, over rode her knowledge of Ishmael’s future. Either God does what He says He’ll do, or He doesn’t. There’s no in between. When Hagar stumbled into despair, God opened her eyes just enough to find rescue. God knows us better than we know ourselves. Just one more reason to trust Him more than we should trust ourselves.

8 When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion. 9 But Sarah saw Ishmael–the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar–making fun of her son, Isaac. 10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. 12 But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. 13 But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.15 When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush. 16 Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.17 But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”19 Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer, 21 and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt. Genesis 21:8-21