"Isaac, Ishmael--and Me!"

We all love a fairy tale--the "once upon a time"...and "they lived happily ever after" stories we heard and read as kids, have watched with our own kids on VCRs and TV, tales of intrigue, delight and happy endings.

Well, THIS is no fairy tale...it's for real--and right now, it does not appear to have any happy ending in sight....or is there? Let's dig a little deeper....

Our story begins with Father Abraham...only he WASN'T a "father" when our story began...and that was the problem. You see, God had promised Him heirs as numberless as the stars in the sky above and Abraham kept waiting for the heirs to appear, for God's promise to be fulfilled. No heirs showed up! One night he decided to "help God out" a bit, and 9 months later, Ishmael, son of Abraham and his maid, Hagaar, appeared on the scene--only to be met some time later by Isaac, the long-awaited son of promise.

Like all little boys--and if you have any, you would understand--they probably had their fights and feuds, and one day it reached a boiling point. Abraham, in frustration, sends Hagaar and Ishmael away...he had to have peace in his household.....

And Ishmael had to have WATER. You know the story--out in the desert, a panic-stricken mother prays and God sends a miracle--water springing up to spare the life of little Ishmael. God loved them both--Isaac, son of heavenly promise, and Ishmael, son of human plan.

But they didn't love each other--that was the problem. That IS the problem, and today, the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac are still having their fights and feuds, and boiling points still arise in the strained relationship. The world watches Ishmael and Isaac--and so does the One who holds the world in His hand...He's got a final ending to it all, a happy ending for those who love and serve Him....and that's where you and I come in!

You see, the same God who's watching over Isaac and Ishmael as they go their separate, willful, angry ways is watching over you and me too! He longs for a world of peace and unity; He weeps over a torn, fractured world of war and strife.....and He loves us all....."For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16) - - it's a promise for Isaac, for Ishmael, for you--and for me!

There's life, hope, forgiveness, love, unity, peace in the home of the Father. Are you wandering, fighting, feuding, wanting your own way? There's no peace--and no happy ending--until and unless you come home to the God who loves and cares for you.....He's waiting for the sons and daughters of Isaac--and Ishmael--and for you and me--to come HOME where we belong, where we can live "happily ever after"....thank God, by His grace, I've found my place at Home--HIS Home--and that's the only place I want to be--how about you!

...and that's just a faith-filled thought or two from my heart to yours!

Copyright 2006 by Peggie Bohanon, Springfield, MO. All rights reserved.
Not to be copied without permission.

"Lord, we live in an angry, fractured, fearful world. We can't get along with each other, we can't love one other, we can't live with one other--how it must hurt Your heart. Help us, Lord, to live in Your love, and to bring that love to a hurting world this day--may peace and Your Kingdom reign first in our hearts and then may "thy Kingdom come" and may we forever dwell in peace with You, throughout all eternity, In Jesus' Name, Amen."

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