Sarah Conceived

‘She said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.” The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this servant and her son! For the son of this servant will not be heir with my son, Isaac.” ‘ Genesis 21:7-10

Spend time in nature

Find a place by a relaxing well or in a meadow that is hidden from the rest of the world. Bring a simple picnic lunch (optional a good book to read and take turns reading the story). While you are enjoying your lunch, tell stories of the parents when they were children. Tell stories about your extended family, about grandparents, aunts, and uncles. If you have any family legends that have been passed down from generation to generation remind your children about stories from their youth, remember you know things about their past that they have forgotten. Reminisce about family and the joy it is to have so many people in our lives that share our memories, our hardships, our heart, our future. Talk to your children about how they are part of a larger family. They are part of God’s family, a family that is more numerous than the stars in the sky or the sand on the beach. God’s family is made of up people from every nation and are descendants of Adam and Eve.

Tip

“Learning about family history is important. It is essential to understanding ourselves and basic humanity and diversity. Family history also helps to keep memories alive and allow each generation to have an idea of who they are and where they come from.” – Taleta M.

Do something creative

Today celebrate that you are part of God’s family, by making a family tree. A family tree can be very elaborate in detail and size, or it can be simple. No matter how you choose to make your family tree, make sure to have fun and to include as many people as you can. A simple tree can be made by drawing a basic tree trunk with branches for each family you would like to include and leaves with each family members name. Put the tree together as a family and create a nice frame for it. Make sure to share your family tree with everyone who was included on the tree.

What you will need:

a large sheet of paper (draw a tree trunk and some branches on it)
Cut out various leaves
A marker to write names on the leaves
Glue/ an adhesive

Family worship idea

For family worship put together, or start a puzzle. Depending on the size of the puzzle this activity can take anywhere from 15 minutes to days to complete. We have found that a new 250 piece puzzle takes us about an hour to finish. As your family works on the puzzle read through Genesis 21. There are a couple of things in this chapter. First Sarah has finally brought forth the child God promised to Abraham, but this also means Sarah wants to send away Hagar. Hagar gave Abraham a son because Sarah was looking for a way to help make God’s promise a reality. Now Sarah sees how God can accomplish the impossible, no matter how limited we are as humans. Hagar takes Ishmael and wonders through the wilderness until she believes her beloved son is going to perish; at that moment the two sit down and seek God. God showed her a well, most likely the same well Abraham would make a covenant with Abimelech. Though Hagar and Ishmael had to leave God had promised that Ishmael would be a great nation. Isaac too would become a great nation, a nation that would inherit the promised land. Now all who belong to Christ are part of this nation. Some of us are adopted into the family that is to be as numerous as the stars. Just like the puzzle you put together, we might not look identical, but we all have a place in God’s family.

Personal thoughts

In Galatians 4 there is such a precious insight into this story. Abraham is promised to be a father to decedent’s as many as the stars. All those who belong to Christ (Galatians 3:29) are part of Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise. We are descendants of the promised child, of Isacc. Isacc’s descendants would inherit the promised land after serving time as bondservants. In Galatians 4, children are under the father’s bondage until a set point in time. Until Christ was nailed to the cross, generation after generation was bound to a covenant made at the bottom of a Mountain, “we will” or “I will” in my case. In Galatians, Paul is trying to help us understand grace (Ephesians 2:8). Hagar and Ishmel understood the laws Abraham lived by; but Hagar was a bondservant, her obedience was to her master, her owner. She obeyed because it was required of her. Just as so many Israelites were obedient to temple practices. God wants something so much more than for us to blindly obey (Amos 5:21, Isaiah 1:11, 1 Samuel 15:22, Isaiah 66:1-3, Hosea 6:6). God wants our heart, He wants our devotion, our love. I know I have so much strength and will I can do almost anything I put my mind to, but remaining obedient to the letter of the law is so impossible. To keep all hate out of my heart, for every moment of every day is tested again and again in today’s political landscape. To keep all coveting out of my heart, for every moment of every day is tested when I drive by the neighborhood I want to live in, I don’t want a house like theirs, I want their house. To be under the law, to be a bondservant would be impossible for me. I’m thankful I am one of those who have been adopted and belong to Christ.

Hiding His word in you ❤

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Messiah may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

Additional Resources:

Another website that can help the family find a creative way to worship or create