The Other Son

Announcement

Watching “The Chosen” and saw an ad for “His Only Son.”

Showing in select theaters end of March and beginning of April

Angel Studios made a movie about Abraham and Isaac!

We will be coordinating as many of us as would like to go on March 30th at 7:00pm

Tickets are $6.49 at the AMC in Sunnyland

If sold out or can’t go, other times are at Grand Prairie and in Normal

Link is on YouVersion and you should have recieved an email

Brings up another point, if you want to be on our email list - contact office or connect card

Also, might want to get in church directory

Email [e-mail]

We’ll enter your email into our directory

Then, you can access by going to the bottom of our main page (visitcrosspoint.com)

Speaking of, some of you might want to update your pictures and info on there!

Some of you still have you prom picture up there and now you're retired...

Introduction

Proverbs 13:3 (ESV)

3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;

he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Sometimes it’s best to speak up, other times we should keep our mouth shut!

You know how commercials stick with you sometimes?

Here’s a test…

You save big money, you save big money, when you… shop Menards!

J. Jansen, one name… says it all

During the Christmas play, Drew Friebohle had a line:

We are an old established law firm...

When he said it, everyone said the same commercial in response:

We are… Farmers! Bum, ba-bum, bum, bum, bum, bum

For some reason, this commercial has stuck in my head since 1996

It’s about a guy who says way too much…

PLAY VIDEO: Got milk?

Today’s day in age, the real problem comes with social media

What do Mariners catcher Steve Clevenger, Mavericks PG Kyrie Irving, U.S. Olympic skier Aaron Blunck have in common?

All suspended for Tweets

It’s not just our mouth, it’s our hands today too!

Remember George Zimmerman? He shot Trayvon Martin…

Spike Lee posted wrong address and was sued for $10,000

Should have kept his fingers shut!

Sometimes we have to be quiet, because voicing our thoughts can change our future

Today we learn about Ishmael making that mistake

YouVersion: The Other Son

We’re in Genesis 21:9-21

Ended last week with this:

Genesis 21:8 (ESV)

8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

Weaning between 2 and 12 (likely the younger side)

Although 13 years apart, the inevitable happens

Genesis 21:9 (ESV)

9 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing.

That word laughing might be better translated, “scoffing”

Abraham is celebrating his son, and his other son doesn’t like it

“Oh yay, Isaac…”

Women have the potential to do some real evil stuff!

Men do too, don’t get me wrong… but we’re looking at women right now

Anonymous: “Telling an angry woman to calm down works about as well as trying to baptize a cat.”

That line is actually an adaptation, but still

No one reads that and goes, “Huh, I don’t know what you mean!”

Angry women generally have to the ability to act in certain terrifying ways...

Remember Genesis 16:4… Hagar was very snooty with Sarah

Genesis 16:4 (ESV)

4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.

Hagar was like, “Oh, look who can’t have kids, but I can! Your husband got me pregnant!”

Whatever Sarah did to her after was enough to make her run away in fear!

Sarah understandably got a little crazy...

Now Sarah has a son, and I think she starts to get a little snooty herself…

Why? The other son gets a little jealous. He was the guy, now he’s taken a backseat

He should appreciate his role, but he’s angry

Have you ever experienced that?

You’re the popular kid and someone else comes along who’s more popular?

You’re the best employee, but some new guy gets credit for being a hard worker?

You’re the go-to person for a ministry and some new woman comes along and is more dominant?

And what do you do? Gossiping behind their back, hoping they stumble, building dissension...

Jealousy and envy are poison to a community

That’s what Ishmael is doing - just hating on the new kid

And he’s probably bene doing it for awhile - ever since Sarah got pregnant

He’s a teenager, Isaac is a toddler - who’s at fault for the tension?

The 16 year old or the 3 year old?

If a teenager’s involved, there’s a good chance they’re responsible no matter who the other party is!

In this case, it’s clear the tension between these two starts with Ishmael

These two can’t get along to this day! More on that later...

Genesis 21:10–11 (ESV)

10 So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” 11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son.

Sarah is ready to be done with Hagar and Ishmael and wants them gone!

Interesting, isn’t she the one who started this whole thing?

But she is saying a lot more than she knows

God was telling this story specifically for you and me!

Galatians 4:21–24 (ESV)

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants...

Paul is saying that God used the story of Isaac and Ishmael as symbols for His covenants:

Galatians 4:24–25 (ESV)

24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

What covenant comes from Mount Sinai? The Mosaic covenant or the Law...

What does Paul say this gives birth to? Slavery!

The Jewish law didn’t give anyone freedom!

Just a bunch of rules we couldn’t keep - why? Because we’re slaves to sin!

If I said, “Okay new rule, no breathing in church!”

We all hold our breath - what happens in the next 10 minutes?

All of us are either dead or breaking the rules and hiding it...

All that rule does is show us that we can’t keep it! We have a weakness!

In a sense, we are slaves to oxygen...

The Jewish Law was the same thing!

It was a bunch of rules that we couldn’t keep

All it taught us was that we are slaves to sin...

But there’s another promise here:

Galatians 4:28–31 (ESV)

28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Our inheritance comes from promise, not slavery

This answers the questions about God’s chosen people (Jews) and their status after denying Christ

This was painted by God using Sarah’s words some 1900 years earlier

BACK TO THE PASSAGE:

Back to the Genesis story... Abraham struggles because he loves both his boys!

Illustration: Ronnie and Grace

Ronnie’s not my biological son - but I love him the same

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t external implications...

When doctors ask about genetic issues, I can’t answer from my stance...

When Ronnie was growing up, I had thoughts about what would happen if Tash died

What if Ronnie’s biological dad wanted to take him, I wouldn’t have much recourse...

I don’t think Abraham loves Ishmael any less because he wasn’t Sarah’s son

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t external implications...

Notice what Sarah said, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son.”

What is that sentence lacking? A question mark! She is making a decision…

Remember last time there was tension?

Genesis 16:5–6 (ESV)

5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.

Abraham said “Hey, she’s your servant! Do whatever you want!” And she was so mean that Hagar ran!

This isn’t just Sarah’s mistress, it’s Abraham’s son!

Ever wonder why God tells women to be submissive to men and men the head over women?

I know this is a hard command for many women

“I don’t want to be under the headship of my husband, he’s an idiot!”

Well, you picked him!

It’s partly because women know how to exercise their authority even when they “don’t have it”

Ever heard the story of Anne Boleyn? Married King Henry VIII

Ambassadors of Milan/France said it was essential to have Anne’s approval to influence English govt.

This was before she was even queen

He asked her to be mistress, she said no - I want to be queen

Catholic Church wouldn’t grant divorce from Catherine

She convinced King Henry VIII to split an entire country from Roman Catholicism

Started Church of England so he could marry Anne

That is a powerful woman, and she didn’t need a title or official authority

Women are too smart for that

I think God partly put men in the head position to create balance

That goes along with the problem that men tend to struggle with in their households

Men often tend to check out - that’s what Abraham did last time

Instead of working with Sarah and Hagar, he said, “She’s your servant, do whatever you want.”

Again, Abraham is in a tough spot:

He has the promised heir, his other son is scoffing, his wife is fuming

I think Abraham feels stuck

It can be hard to be a parent and husband or wife

If he sides with his wife, he has to kick out his son

If he sides with his son, he has to refuse his wife’s position

There is no good answer

Sometimes I hear from moms and dads that they feel stuck between their spouse and kids

Sometimes a kid will be asking for money or to move back home after messing up

Then one parent will say, “No, they need to learn.”

Then it becomes, do I refuse my child or go against my spouses opinion

What do you do in those moments?

Last time he told his wife, “Do whatever you want,” this time he makes a better decision:

Genesis 21:12–13 (ESV)

12 But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 13 And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.”

While it can be tough to go between mother and child, Abraham was wise and went to God

God says, be on the same page with your wife

Spouses should be on the same page with God

So many times I see spouses not on the same page

There’s one line I hate that people say, “Don’t tell my wife, or don’t tell my husband.”

Sometimes I say it joking around - “Ooh, I’m going to eat this donut, don’t tell my wife!”

But in reality, I probably shouldn’t even joke about it

Here son, take $100, don’t tell your mom

You can take my car for a week, don’t tell your dad

Those are incredibly unhealthy patterns

In this case, God says, “Take the side of your wife.”

But He also gives a specific instruction that’s very different than last time

God says, “DO as she tells you.”

Don’t just give her permission and check out, DO it yourself

God’s ruling may be considered harsh, as He sends the boy away

But notice a few things:

First, God promises to take care of Ishmael, and even give him a nation

Second, Ishmael shouldn’t even be alive! He came from Abram and Sarai doubting God

Third, Abraham may still doubt! Just maybe he wanted Ishmael as a backup plan

God here makes it clear there is no backup plan - just My plan

Fourth, remember Gal 4 compares Hagar/Ishmael to the flesh and Sarah/Isaac to His promise

God is making clear that the flesh and His grace do not have the same inheritance

Those who live by the flesh are cast out, and by His promise receive glory

Finally, the boy is at least 13, probably 16 or older

13 year-olds weren’t as helpless as they are now, much less 16 year olds

Kick out a 13 year old today, there’s no way that kid is going to make it

Take a 13 year old now and drop them off at Wal-Mart without a cellphone…

You’ll never see them again!

Keep that in mind for this next passage because it calls for dissection…

Genesis 21:14–16 (ESV)

14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept.

If you’ve been paying attention, you might think that the Bible has an error here:

This is an arguing point for Muslims, because they believe in this story but reversed…

They say the verses were changed here, and Ishmael was a baby and not a teen

Abraham was 86 when Ishmael was born, 100 when Isaac was born, plus weaning time for Isaac

If the Bible is accurate, Ishmael is at least 13

We know this more by Genesis 17

Genesis 17:24–25 (ESV)

24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

So Isaac comes along right after that, and then he’s weaned

Muslims say that v. 14 was mistranslated to fix an error

They suggest the original text says Hagar put Ishmael on her shoulder

Something most mom’s don’t do with teenagers...

ILLUSTRATION: People frequently get tripped up on translation

Their argument is that people change translations to whatever they want it to say

To directly translate “pomme de terre” leaves you with “apples of the earth”

“Je veux le pomme de terre” means “I want the apple of the earth”

Do you know what an “apple of the earth” is? A potato!

Imagine you are translating the original Hebrew to English, and you come across something like this

Is it better to put “apple of the earth” or “potato”?

Some put potato because it’s easier, but it’s presumptive

Some put apple of the earth because that’s direct and you should study the context

Point: Not every language works like our does, and here is what Muslims see

V. 14 looks like it says Ishmael was placed on Hagar’s shoulder

If you directly translate, it looks like it says he put “bread, water and Isaac on her shoulder”

Direct translation from Hebrew looks like this:

“So rose early, Abraham, in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and he gave to Hagar, putting on her shoulder, and the boy, and sent her away, and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba”

Each of these begs the question: How is she doing this with a 16-year-old!?

Answer: She’s not!

First, a woman carrying a child would probably do so on her hip or back, not her shoulders

Second, you cannot use a direct translation without understanding context

EXPLAIN:

Basically there are three verbs (gave, sent, placed) and three nouns (water, bread, child)

There is something before “the child” called an object marker which connects it to a verb

Muslims assume it is the verb “placed”

However, the word “and” suggests that it is the verb previous, which is “gave”

I don’t want to take too much time on this, if you’re confused or need convincing, do some HW!

As for “placing” or “throwing” the child, it doesn’t make sense to throw a 16 year old… or any child!

It probably means “cast”

Imagine this for a second:

They are wandering, they are thirsty, and they are tired

Beersheba is very hot and semi-arid

He’s upset INSERT: He is regretting his words (EXAMPLE: Every sermon ever!)

In our house, “I’m bored” becomes “I don’t want to pull any more weeds!”

Back to Ishmael: his words are affecting him and his mother

So he steps up out of guilt and then the heat starts to get to him

He’s overheated, dehydrated, overexerted, and he passes out

With the last bit of her strength, she drags him to a shrub for some shade

She assumes that he is simply going to die there

But she’s his mother, she can’t watch this

So she crawls a bow shot away, maybe a couple hundred feet

Far enough to not hear his breathing, and she starts to break down

But the teen recoups a little and starts to call out, and God responds…

Genesis 21:17–18 (ESV)

17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

Again, God follows through on His promise

Let’s look back at what God said about Ishmael

Back in Genesis 16:9-12

Genesis 16:9–12 (ESV)

9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her,

“Behold, you are pregnant

and shall bear a son.

You shall call his name Ishmael,

because the Lord has listened to your affliction.

12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man,

his hand against everyone

and everyone’s hand against him,

and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.”

God follows through on everything He promised Hagar

AND God shows special favor Ishmael because he is Abraham’s son

When things seem hopeless, God can still move

Eventually, Ishmael fathers a nation. His descendants became the Arabic people

Today, you can still see his hostility toward his brothers

Here’s how God fulfills His promise:

Genesis 21:19–21 (ESV)

19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

This is the last time we hear about Ishmael until Genesis 25 when he comes to his dad’s burial

ILLUSTRATE: The goodness of God

God’s ultimate promise of salvation came through Isaac’s people

But eventually, he even offered salvation to the descendants of Ishmael

1 John 2:2 (ESV)

2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

God not only rescues Ishmael from death

God eventually offers life to his descendents as well

God’s hope is open to everyone

We can find hope in God because like Ishmael we may be hated, rejected and sinful…

Jealous, bitter and angry

Ruled out, kicked out, cast out

And we may even deserve it!

But we find our hope in a God that forgives, and always keeps His promises