Dear Diary,
Discovering mercy and grace in Genesis 21 narrative
I have been doing a soul search these past few days and I realize that God’s mercy and grace been bigger than my blunders. Mercy is defined as not getting the punishment one deserves as a consequence. Grace can be defined as free gift and undeserved favour of God as manifested in the salvation of a sinner and bestowal of blessings; there’s nothing I can do to earn it.
In Genesis 21:1-6, we discover that God was gracious to Sarah as He had promised. In due time, she got pregnant and bore a son according to God’s promise. It took 25years but God was faithful to His promise. The promise was fulfilled by grace not because Abraham was perfect in his obedience but because God was faithful to His word. Previously, Sarah and Abraham attempted a shortcut to speed up the fulfillment of God’s promise, Gen. 16. In spite of Abraham’s rendezvous with Hagar, God still honored His promise. Additionally, in Genesis 12:10-20; 20:2, both Sarah and Abraham lied about their relationships jeopardizing Pharaoh and Abimelek’s households, yet God showed Abraham mercy and grace.
In Gen. 21:8-20, God graciously and mercifully preserved the life of Hagar and Ishmael in the desert. Sarah demanded that Abraham send away Hagar and Ishmael, saying Ishmael would never share in the inheritance of her son Isaac, v.10. With no water to drink in the desert, God heard the boy’s cry and provided water, v.19. Though Ishmael was a result of a human effort, devoid of faith, God was with the boy as he grew up in the desert and He graciously promised to make him a great nation, v.13, 18-20.
In v. 21-33, God graciously brought about an alliance with a pagan king who gave Abraham a position of favour in spite of having dealt with him deceitfully.
Okay. If it hadn’t been for God’s mercy and grace, what would be your story? Where/what/how would you be?
Position yourself for God’s mercy and grace by approaching His throne of grace boldly, Heb. 4:16.
Yours graced scribbler,
NzakuNashipae
NzakuNashipae
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