God says Abraham shows justice and judgment in chapter 18 of yesterdays lesson, yet when we see a few chapters over Abraham throwing out his wife's bonds maid he slept with, leaves one with the question was this justice, was the judgment fair. First of all what choice did the bonds woman have in sleeping with Abraham to bear a child name Ishmael and why would Sarah give up her marital rights to her maid? How long had Sarah hope for a child and finally conceived at 90 and how long had her maid been with her. We know her maid been with her at least 20 years, but probably longer. We know perhaps since the time that Abraham and Sarah had left Egypt that this maid probably had come with her. Scripture is not clear, but we know ten years in the land of Canaan, since they arrive she been with them. Point being she been with Sarah a long time. Abraham did not throw away the maid because her work was no good, it was because she was showing to much disrespect after all these years to Sarah and the son of promise so Abraham gets rid of her with provisions. Had Sarah been kind to her, had maid been loyal til this point. There was a rift between Sarah and Hagar after Ishmael had been born. Hagar had run away because of mistreatment the first time, but Angel of the Lord spoke to her and she return to Abraham. Abraham took her back and she served Sarah, until this party Abraham thrown for Isaac caused Hagar's son to mock Sarah and Isaac.

Was this mocking by Hagar's son enough to get this woman justly cast out from her home? To Sarah she would not let this boy be heir with her son. God told Abraham to do has his wife said. Abraham did talk to God about this issue apparently. God told Abraham to send Hagar away because it was true Ishmael would not be an heir with Sarah's son. The promise would come through Isaac as God had planned and the land of promise was Isaac. Abraham action would allow God's plans to be fulfilled. However was it just? God is just, why would it seem unfair for Hagar to be cast away. Abraham would send her with supplies, how easy would it be for her to find work, or anything for her son after being order to leave. We must remember all of Abraham children were of promise, but not all held the heirship to the promiseland spoken by God to Abraham concerning the land of Israel. Did anything change not until Christ came. Yet the promise of faith did not exclude Hagar or Ishmael. Ishmael would become a great nation has well but his territory would not be Israel. In fact God spoke to Hagar when she came to a point of thirst and she had lad her son in the shade to die, not seeing the well before them. Yet when God spoke and provided refreshing drink Hagar was able to continue on and live in the desert. The promise of God was with her, that her son would live and become a great nation.

Just because Ishmael and Hagar was thrown out did not mean God could not extend hope to her and her son. It means Hagar came to a place that knew God of Abraham was merciful as she began to cry out to him. She could only see death facing her and her son, but God brought her hope. She believe and did as the Lord said, and took her son by the hand and they drank from the well and went forth as directed to her homeland, outside of Egypt and dwelt in the land of Paran outside of Egypt.

What seems unjust by man maybe the Lord's doing, for God would raise Ishmael up as well as Isaac as both being son's of different promises because of faith. Israac held the promise of the earthly inheritance of his father's Abraham, Ishmael would become a nation not of Abraham's inheritance but his mother's in one sense, because it was the land in which Hagar came from. God did not have Hagar and her son thrown out to perish but to live. Abraham had to trust God's intent to bring children as numberous as the stars from the tribes of his children because of faith.

If you find yourself not the child of inheritance you not a child of being outcasted from God's promise or hope, because the promise of hope comes with faith in God. Israel would carry the promise of the Messiah, but the Messiah came because of all nations. Jesus taught even the gentiles not just the Jews. He taught them the way to live even under a different ruler then God. He taught them to walk the road of the cross to do the will of God despite the cost. Yet the cost for Christ came with the resurrection and eternity with the Father, which was already his. Jesus taught faith. At anytime God could of destroyed his plan, yet he allowed Jesus to die for our sins. To die for the breaking of the law of man. We must continue to abide by the law of God by walking by God's Spirit. Obeying the Spirit of Truth.

When we believe it God's way, do it God's way, live for the hope Christ brings us, and be willing to die God's way, we will see eternity. Hope of promise of the Messiah coming was only proof of the inheritance he gives his children he gains from the promise of faith. Was any exclude from the knowledge of Jesus, the answer is no. We must remember the gentiles that visited Jesus at the house. We know the wise men were probably not Jewish by faith for they worshipped and followed the stars. Did not Joseph and Mary take baby Jesus to Egypt. Who in Egypt would of been seeing the promise of hope. Hagar people perhaps so many centuries later.

God is not going to exclude people of ignorance from knowing truth, but he not going to allow people to live in unrighteousness and in disobedience. Hagar's son mocked Isaac. We can not mock God or his people. His judgment and justice is only right. Most in our world today never concider mockery wrong. Yet it is. One day God is going to show judgment on the mockers of faith. His judgment is coming and he will cast them out and final judgment will come. Final judgment a word that man can not conceive with a loving God, but it is true. That final judgment means those of faith in Christ will no longer be dealing with mockers of faith in God and Christ his Son. Abraham sent Hagar out, but God brought her to her knees and redeemed her. She was not Abraham's but a child of God.

Dear Heavenly Father give us strength to hold to faith and hope in your promise of our inheritance that comes only through faith for eternity. Help hold to your promises to us as individuals as well. You speak to our hopes of a bright future even in the world in which we live. Lord enable us to hold to your promises of successful road of faith through obedience. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Galatians 3:6-14 KJV
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 6:7-10 KJV
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.