“Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac” (Genesis 21:10).
TEXT — Genesis 21:1-14
Message
God’s promises, no matter how delayed, will never be late. This is confirmed in our text when Isaac, the long-awaited heir, was born to Abraham and Sarah, as promised. No word of God shall fall to the ground, for He is faithful. As He did with Sarah, God will always visit those who put their trust in and patiently wait for Him. Through them, He will manifest what appears impossible and beyond human comprehension because as someone said, what God cannot do does not exist.
Amid the euphoria that accompanied Isaac’s birth, Sarah observed the mocking of Ishmael. The arrival of the newborn baby in the family caused a shift of attention from the older son, eventually leading to jealousy on the part of Ishmael. He was no longer the main object of attention as it used to be. He developed ill feelings towards Isaac, and routinely laughed at him and his aged mother in derision. Sarah could not condone the disrespect of Ishmael and demanded the expulsion of his mother and him.
Although it was difficult, Abraham had to meet Sarah’s request if he must enjoy the full benefits of God’s blessings which would come through Isaac. Those who intend to enjoy the fullness of God’s blessings must be ready to give up sin, compromise, polygamy, and unequal yoke of whatever sort. Prompt obedience, as seen in Abraham, delivers us from the bondage of Satan.
All who belong to Christ today are Abraham’s descendants and heirs according to God’s promise. However, the only sure way of becoming His heirs is repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thought for the day
Children of Abraham by faith are co-heirs with Christ.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
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