He's Their God Too!

"What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there." Genesis 21:17b

He's Their God Too!
By Rev. William Dohle

The older I get the bigger the world seems to be!

Growing up, I sometimes thought the world ended at our block. Now I know that the world extends far past the boundaries of my sight. This world is a massive place! Even now, as you are reading this, there are people asleep in their beds. There are people right now, living their lives, doing good to their neighbor, working, struggling, surviving, eating, breathing, and living. You will never meet most of those people. But they exist!

This world is big! And our God is big! Our God is present with people of all walks of life. People who live in the hot jungles of Africa to people who live in the cold tundra of Canada. From the heights of the Andes to the dry desert of the Sahara. From the cities of New York to the plains of Montana. God is present in every place with believers throughout the world.

And not just with Christian believers either. God is present with those of other faiths too. Our lesson today reminds us that God has special designs for Hagar's son, the forefather of the Muslim faith. Ishmael, the oldest son of Abraham, is banished into the desert and it seems that all is lost. His own mother, Hagar, puts him under the bushes because she can't stand to see him die.

That is, until, God hears the boy crying and intervenes. In a touching exchange, God saves Hagar and her child, promising her "I will make him into a great nation."

Now, we can dismiss this. We can try to exclude people from God's grace. They don't know the truth like we do. But to do so is to ignore his presence in passages like these. These words, spoke to Hagar, are the same words that God spoke to Abraham earlier. "I will make you into a great nation." Do we dismiss this prayer too because Abraham isn't Christian? Why dismiss God's promises here to Ishmael then, just because we disagree on certain points with his descendants?

Whatever our faith is, we mustn't box God in. God is Lord of all the Universe! God has sent his Son, Jesus, to save us. But not just us! The entire universe! God will accomplish this too, not on our terms or by ways that we understand, but by his infinite wisdom and by his grace!

As Paul writes:
Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?
Who has ever given to God that God should repay him?
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen! (Romans 11:33-36)

May God open your eyes that you might see the deliverance he has given all people. May you be so touched by God that you are able to discern what he is already doing in the lives of those around you.

Heavenly Father, Mighty God, you have designs that extend far past where my eyes can see. Give me the grace to accept what you give me and the faith to trust you in my life and in the world, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.