Abraham continued to face consequences for circumventing God's plan regarding his descendants. Ishmael, the child he fathered through his wife's servant Hagar, became a resentful and jealous son following the birth of Isaac. "Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, 'Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.' The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son" (Genesis 21:9-11).
Abraham learned the hard way that deviating from God's path leads to misery.
Abraham learned the hard way that deviating from God's path leads to misery. He knew that God's promises were true and sure, but, more than once, he allowed himself to become trapped by Satan's lies and faltered in his faith. Jesus told us, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). Jesus was not talking about mere knowledge of the Truth, but our submission to it. He was talking about the Truth of the Gospel message: We need a Savior, and God has met our deep need through the atoning sacrifice of Christ by grace. It isn't up to us. And that Truth brings freedom and transforms us into Christlike people as we trust and follow Him.
Rejoice that no matter how you falter along your journey of faith, God will be there to pick you up and redirect your steps toward His Truth—the Gospel of grace.
Prayer: God, I know that I must face the consequences of my disobedience, but I know You will never forsake me. Help me grow in faith. Thank You for picking me up when I fall. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
"[T]hough he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand" (Psalm 37:24).
Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon Counting Stars in an Empty Sky, Part 9: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOW
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