PAST COLUMN #7

From the West Meadow
By Pastor Wesley Higgins

The conflict that is currently engulfing the world is not a new one. It can be traced back nearly 4000 years to two brothers: one, Paul called the son of “freewoman” born through promise; the other, the son of the “bondwoman–born according to the flesh”. (Galatians 4:23)

These were the sons of Abraham, brothers born to conflict. Ishmael, the one born of the flesh, is the ancestor of the Arab nations. Isaac, born through the promise, is the son through whom all Christians and Jews claim lineage, if not literally then at least figuratively. (See Romans 4:9-12, Gal. 4:28-31).

Even before Ishmael was born, the conflict was prophesied: “...And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” (Genesis 16:11, 12)
In the story of Ishmael and Isaac we see the beginning of conflict, a deep rivalry that lasts through the centuries right into our present day and time. But the story also brings a promise of future resolution of this conflict, when all concerned will be able to laugh.

Let’s look at the story. It begins for us in Genesis 16. God had promised Abraham a son, but he got impatient and jumped the gun. He wasn’t willing to wait on God, and Ishmael was the consequence. Because of Abraham’s lack of faith (yes, even the father of the faithful lacked faith at times)–or rather in spite of it–God instructed that the child be named Ishmael: “God hears”. God wanted us to remember that He always hears those who cry out to him. God hears us, the descendants of the freewoman. He also hears the descendants of the bondwoman. Not only does God hear, but as the story promises, God will at some future time resolve the problem by bringing salvation through Abraham’s promised seed. (Gal. 3:16)

In Genesis 17:17 and 18:12 we see that both Abraham and his wife Sarah laughed at the thought of a son of promise being born to them in their old age (Abraham was approximately 100 years old, and Sarah about 90 years old). So God instructed that they name their son Isaac, which means “laughter”, or as some translations put it, “God is laughing now”. As Sarah is quoted in Genesis 21:6, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.”

There will come a time when Abraham’s seed, the seed of promise–the Christ–will return and bring with Him salvation, joy–and laughter. And that is the story and the promise of Ishmael and Isaac.

Return to Recent Columns Here.     Find Past Columns Here.