Emphasis Preaching Journal

We may think of the story of Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness not only as a parable of God's protection, but also as a reminder that God's love extends to all people. Hagar and Ishmael, rejected by Abraham and Sarah, tossed away like last year's fashions, are not forgotten by God. It is only a small story, but it is a story that demonstrates a truth about God that we forget all too often. God does not belong to our family alone, our clan alone, our people alone, our nation alone, our race alone, or even our faith alone. God is bigger and better than that. Sent by Abraham and Sarah into the wilderness to die, Hagar runs out of food and water, and in despair she gives up. Unable to bear the thought of watching her son die, she places him beneath a bush and goes some distance away, so as to not see his agony nor hear his cries. But God hears the boy's cries, and God sees a mother's tears. And God reminds Hagar: "I will make a great nation of him!" God provides water and a way in the wilderness and Ishmael lives. Indeed, when Abraham dies, we are told that Isaac and Ishmael come together and bury their father together (Genesis 25:9).

Some say that the battle that rages today between Islam and the western world is rooted in the conflict between Sarah and Hagar so long ago. How very sad that even today we have trouble seeing the truth that God embraces all people as his children. How hard it is to dispel prejudice and ancient hatred and fear, and bring peace within the great family of humanity.