Daily devotion – God’s grace over our mistakes
Gen 17:18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
Gen 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
Both Abraham and Sarah had to learn to live with their mistakes. Abraham knew that Ishmael would not be a permanent part of the covenant family. God’s solution to the “Ishmael Problem” was not to blame Abraham, Sarah, or Hagar, but to send another HOLY CHILD into the home – Isaac.
Ishmael did not give Abraham and Sarah any trouble until Isaac came along, then he started to create problems.
God’s grace is always greater than man’s sin and can accomplish God’s best even when men do their worst.
In grace, God saw Hagar fleeing to Egypt, and He came to her and met her needs. He made her the mother of a great nation. This was done because of Abraham, but God’s covenant with Abraham was a covenant of grace.
Satan always wants us to think that our ‘disobedience detours’ must become the permanent road for the rest of our lives wanting us to continually live in shame and guilt. But this is a lie!
Like Abraham and Sarah, we can confess our sins, accept God’s cleansing – 1 John 1:9 – and then learn to live with our mistakes. Yes, there will be pain and regret, but God’s grace will overcome in the end!