The Everlasting God

[Servant Boy]

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Genesis 21:1-4,12-14,30-34 Then the LORD took note of Sarah as He had
said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised. So Sarah
conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed
time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his
son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. Then Abraham
circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had
commanded him... But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed
because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to
her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. "And of the
son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your
descendant." So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a
skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder,
and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered
about in the wilderness of Beersheba... He said, "You shall take these
seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a witness to me, that I
dug this well." Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because
there the two of them took an oath. So they made a covenant at
Beersheba; and Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, arose
and returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham planted a
tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the
LORD, the Everlasting God. And Abraham sojourned in the land of the
Philistines for many days.

Three major themes are in today's chapter and as always, I recommend
you read the entire chapter rather than just the few verses I've used
to bring in the essence of the chapter.

First is the birth of Isaac, which was a fulfillment of God's promise
to Abraham and Sarah, and their age did not come in the way of God
delivering this bundle of joy at the right time, God's perfect timing.

Next is the separation of Hagar and Ishmael from Abraham's household
and it seems rather cruel but God's assured Abraham of Hagar and
Ishmael's welfare and therefore he goes ahead with it.

Lastly, the human covenant between King Abimelech and Abraham that
gave Abraham the peace of knowing he was here to stay for a while and
not move for a while.

What is God trying to teach us through the joyous birth, the painful
separation and the peaceful covenant?

As we can see in all these situations, God has eternally been in
control and does what pleases Himself because His will is perfect and
His ways are perfect. There is a stark difference between our thinking
and God's because He knows and sees all and has a plan.

With us, we know little, see only what is important to us and try to
work out what's best for all 'given what we know'! Take a judge for
example, he rules on a case based not on what is but what he is told,
how it is presented, what the law states and what might be the best
solution.

With God, He is the judge, He sees everything, He knows what the
outcome is and does what He knows is right for He is the RIGHTEOUS
ONE!

We can serve our own limited wisdom or submit to the one who is
everlasting and who loves us so dearly that He sacrificed His only son
Jesus Christ, that we may be washed clean of our sinfulness and be
transformed by the power of His Spirit that takes seat in us.

Abraham describes God in Hebrew as 'OLAM' or 'NETSACH' or 'AD' which
mean always, everlasting or eternity and we serve an eternal God! Is
that not a great assurance!!!

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the
earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.