Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Nothing wounds a child more than his or her father’s rejection. I’m thinking of Ishmael, Abraham’s first-born son by Hagar, Sarai’s Egyptian handmaiden. For more than fourteen years he was the apple of Abraham’s eye and Abraham doted on him. When Isaac, the promised son by Sarah, was born Ishmael resented him. On the day Isaac was weaned Sarah saw Ishmael teasing him and ordered Abraham to drive both Ishmael and his mother out of the camp. It distressed Abraham greatly (Genesis 21:11) but it grievously wounded Ishmael. As a result, he grew up to be:
“A wild donkey of a man; his hand [was] against everyone and everyone’s hand [was} against him, and [lived] in hostility toward all his brothers.”
— Genesis 16:12 (NIV 1984)
Father God, heal those men and women who were sorely wounded by their father’s rejection. Amen.