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Monday, April 2, 2018

# 188 Broken Tears For Broken Homes


The Book of Genesis

Day 188

Ge 21:14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.  15 And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs.  16 Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, "Let me not see the death of the boy." So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.  17 And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 

Allow your heart to enter this story.  It’s early in the morning. Abraham gets up and puts together a little sustenance for his son and the boys’  mother, and sends them on the way.  All he has is the promise God had given him that the boy would be all right and in fact would grow up to be the father of a great nation. He does this knowing he will never see his son again.

Then there’s Hagar. Sent away with Ishmael and now homeless! All she has to her name is a canteen of water, a little bread, and Ishmael.

Then there’s Ishmael.  He is a teenager, who’s world has just fallen apart. No home, no dad, none of the nice things he once had access to in his father’s house. All he has is his mother.

This is a sad state of affairs….broken homes always are.

How often is the same scenario played out in our world today? Children  born out of wedlock, a divorce, an untimely disease or death, and the worlds of all involved are suddenly turned upside down.  This is not the way God has intended us to live……but it happens. What are we to do? Curse the darkness or light a candle?

To light a candle is to invite God into the situation. Hagar’s tears for the waning strength of her son, were a cry out to God.  Perhaps the psalmist had her in mind when he wrote Ps 56:8,9, “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?  9 When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.”

It is interesting that we do not read of God’s response to the tears of Hagar but rather the prayer of Ishmael (v17) and this brings something to mind that Jesus spoke of in  Mt 18:10 "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Was that Ishmael facing angel  one of the angels that called out to Hagar from heaven? One would certainly think so.

So to all those suffering the consequences of a broken family, let me encourage you today. It’s all right to shed tears. God is aware of your wanderings. He knows where you are traveling right now in this season of your life, and to the children I say….pray. God has angels on standby for you. Your prayers may not be answered in the way you desire, but be assured God has heard them. Keep praying…you have God’s ear and He will respond! Trust in His love for you, He will work it out for your good!

Father, thank You for these words of assurance. I pray that You will come alongside those suffering the consequences of a broken home. Hear their cries, heed their pleas, and provide them with what they need to get through this trying time.
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