INTRODUCTION

The first part deals with God’s faithfulness to his word, despite Abraham's less than stellar obedience. God's unconditional promise would be fulfilled, not because of Abraham’s actions but on account of what He said he would do. 

The text focuses on two individuals in the life of Abraham. The first is Isaac, the child of promise born into Abraham’s family at the time appointed by God. The second child is Ishmael, also a son of Abraham, but this child was the son of the bondwoman and was the result of Abraham’s attempt to fulfill God's promise by his own means.  

In one case we see a great example of Abraham’s trust in God and his faith, while in the other case, we see his failure to trust God. 

All of this of course resulted in dire consequences.  The unpleasant effects of what he had done confronted Abraham, for his first son whom he loved dearly, would have to be cast out from the family. There was to be no competition between the son specifically connected to the promise of God and other son. 

In this lesson we will get a glimpse of the apparent harshness of both God and Abraham but we will hopefully come to see that this action was not an act of cruelty but a blessing. 

We will also see Abraham's willingness to obey God even though it hurt him deeply.  Abraham now chose the difficult path of obedience to God even though it cost him much pain. 

The obvious lesson is that when we actively reject the ‘flesh’ and its fruits, we likely will have the same pain and distressful experience that Abraham suffered.  But we will learn that it is all for the best. 

We will also face the serious question as to whether or not we want the “promise of God” in our lives to coexist with the desirable, loving, attractive, ‘comfortable to live with Ishmael’ which comes from our human desires.   

We often do this so that in case the life of faith fails we will be able to resort to dependence on our own devices.  It seems to some that Ishmael was a sort of backup plan for Abraham, so that if something happened to Isaac there would always be Ishmael. God rarely allows His people to have backup plans. He seems to want believers to understand that He is to be the only option. So we too will have to learn to make the kind of commitment Abraham finally made and decide that “Ishmael must go”! 

Abraham and Sarah were overwhelmed with joy when the son of promise was born.  There was joy and victory, gladness and triumph.  They had struggled for many years and now came victory.  Joy flowed all around but all was not well.  There was a rival for Isaac's inheritance and a crisis was brewing.   

This reminds us of what happens when we find Christ and we go through a period of elation.  We have found our Savior and there is genuine gladness in our soul.  But then we are faced with a part of our life which retards our spiritual progress and we have a real problem. It is a struggle to bring our natural inclinations under control and to break away from the habits of our former lifestyle.  

We have to travel along the road which brings us to the realization that Christ must be all in all.  There must be no rivalry.  The fruits of the flesh cannot coexist with the promise of grace. 

That was hard for Abraham to understand.  It is also hard for us to understand.  But we must learn.  Ishmael must go.

THE TEXT

Verse 9.   At this point Isaac had been born and was growing stronger each day.  Ishmael, the only son for about fourteen years, had previously been kept close to Abraham and he was the beloved in Abraham's eyes.  Abraham had even expressed the desire that Ishmael might have been the child of promise in the eyes of God but of course God had told him “No”. 

Now that Isaac was born the boys grew up relatively close together and so we can see there was ample opportunity for Ishmael to interact with Isaac and decide the appropriate behaviour toward this “son of promise”.  Obviously the older Ishmael would have seen the struggles of the younger Isaac and behaved as an elder brother would.  Being fourteen years older, Ishmael would have had to choose between being a gentle and caring older brother, or one inclined to be hard on the younger sibling.   

It might be due to the influence of Hagar, or just a consequence of being a jealous young child, but we are told that at the time when Abraham made a great feast to celebrate the weaning of Isaac, Ishmael mocked Isaac and Sarah took notice. 

Note that this mocking of Isaac by Ishmael occurred at the very important feast celebrating the fact that Isaac was safely weaned. For the parents this would have been an important occasion.  This is thought to have happened when Isaac was three or five years old.   

Usually, we would expect that someone fourteen years older than his brother would be protective of the younger sibling, rather than abusing him which seems to have been the case.  Even when playing together and engaged in any physical activities the older would and should have cared to be careful not to hurt the much younger and weaker sibling.  With this display of a base and sordid disposition by Ishmael, a mother can only react one way, that being to separate one child from the other.  

We should probably understand that since Ishmael had previously been Abraham's only son and since Abraham cared deeply for his only child for fourteen years, Abraham would have probably pampered him.   After all, Abraham was a rich and powerful chief and would have been able to provide Ishmael with comfort and prestige and all kinds of servants looking after him.  He would have had preferred treatment.  He had grown up to expect to be the center of attention and he would have been enjoying a soft life. 

The other point to note is the relationship between siblings and what God thinks about the relationship between children.  One child was mocking the other as the children played.  God will take notice of what children do and say.  Parents should teach their children that just because they are young it does not mean that they are excused when they sin.  God takes all into account, even though the parents do not take account of and are not privy to such actions.   

Also, mocking in a sin in God’s eye.  Not only does this display a lack of respect for one person, but displays a lack of respect in fact for God’s creation.  

We must remember that we are not here dealing only with normal relationships between children.  We are dealing with the son of promise, the one chosen by God, as well as the son that came from an affair that should never have happened.  So it is reasonable and proper to look at what is happening as the type of conflict orchestrated by Satan. 

Between the serpent and seed of the woman there is enmity (Gen. 3) which will manifest itself in part in the form of mocking.  The children of Israel, as well as the children of God are destined to be mocked by all sinners; it is part of the persecution that we must bear, but as children of God we must do so, as part of our duty and service to God.  Mocking serves as a sign to distinguish the children of God, from the children of the world.  God does not reject and cast out people, they reject God first and so they find themselves deserving to be found separated from God.   

The form of the Hebrew word used for “mocking” did not simply indicate laughter, but indicates there was ridicule.  Clearly if this was the type of relationship that was to continue between the siblings there would be grief and continued disturbances in the family.  Abraham's attempt to achieve God's plans in his human way, had brought conflict into his family.

Verse 10.   After observing Ishmael’s treatment of Isaac, Sarah felt that Ishmael could not be trusted with the welfare of Isaac any longer.  I’m sure Sarah was very aware of what God had said to Abraham concerning Isaac and the fact that he was chosen as the ‘child of promise’. 

Even without that, Sarah as a mother with her focus towards the welfare of her child would be upset at Ishmael's behaviour. If anyone interferes with her son, they would have to be removed.  This is and was her mindset, aside from any blessings God had set aside for Isaac.   

Sarah then insisted Abraham cast out the bondwoman Hagar and her child, because they could no longer remain with Isaac.  Sarah speaking like a mother had spoken these words in heat after witnessing what had happened. Her words might have looked as words coming from a completely natural reaction, but the Apostle Paul tells us that Sarah's words had much more meaning. 

In Galatians 4:30 we are told that it was spoken as a word of prophecy and that these words were to be extended and applied to all hypocrites and carnal people who were living alongside the body of believers. Paul tells us that Ishmael is a picture of that which is brought of the ‘flesh’.  He had been born because of Abraham and Sarah's deliberate choice of self indulgence.  God had not chosen Ishmael and so he would not inherit what was promised to Abraham. God would permit him to stay around his people only for a limited period of time, but when they real child of promise came he had to leave. 

The manifestation of self indulgence must leave when the Spirit of grace comes to satisfy the heart of the believer. It is important to understand that all those who are of the ‘flesh’ only care for the things of the ‘flesh’. This means that they live outside of the ‘promise’ and reject the gospel. They will not be partakers in the promises that have been offered to the true children of God.   

All these promises flow from Abraham and the fulfillment of the promises had started to be realized in the birth of Isaac.  Isaac was a picture of that which is born of the Spirit. This is so because Isaac's birth was first of all supernatural.  It had come thirty years after the promise was made to give Abram a son. Abraham had reached one hundred and Sarah was ninety and though Abraham considered that his body was dead, God had quickened both parents in an amazing way.

The fruit of the Spirit had taken a long time to reach its supernatural fulfillment.  That was a lesson both Abraham and Sarah and for us. 

The promise of God is critically important. The Spirit is contrary to what the ‘flesh’ produces. The good intended by God never comes from the ‘flesh’, will never come from self effort, positive thinking, visualization techniques, naming it and claiming it, or any such activity, no matter how long a person keeps on trying. 

The ‘flesh’ cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit, for that fruit is a supernatural gift from God, as was Isaac.  It comes only by being immersed in the life of Jesus Christ. So Sarah was quite right.  This was really delayed judgment.  God had not chosen Ishmael, the manifestation of self indulgence, the result of the things that had been done in the old days when faith was weak or nonexistent. There would be no sharing of the promise or the inheritance.  The ‘flesh’ would have no part with the Spirit. 

So as the Apostle Paul tells us, Hagar is a picture of Mount Sinai, the old covenant which was not sufficient to save.  But there was another covenant, a covenant which belongs to the Jerusalem which is from above.  So Paul tells us in Galatians 4: “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all…Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

But as then he that was born of the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the Scripture?  Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.” 

So, if there is no supernatural birth, if there is reliance on the works of the ‘flesh’, if there is no fruit of the Spirit, if there is self indulgence, constantly trying to do what God wants but in the power of the ‘flesh’, there is no hope for life in the New Jerusalem. 

Sarah was absolutely correct.  That which was the work of the ‘flesh’ had to go. 

Note the dreadful warning contained in the fact that even though Ishmael was the son of Abraham, he was not the child of promise.  His expulsion was meant to serve as a warning that though one might be part of a certain group or family, that does not automatically separate us to be part of the chosen.   

Many of us come from the same beginnings and as such even though some may reject the word of God, they are familiar with and conversant with the children of God in this world.  Ishmael was the son of Abraham, however it was clearly mentioned that he would not be considered a joint heir with Isaac and would not inherit the promises of God.   

Salvation is a supernatural gift.  Jesus is the only one who can provide the spring of water which wells up in us to eternal life. (John 4:14.)

Verse 11.   Abraham was distressed by Sarah's strong position.  He was clearly agitated.  He had grown up for many years with Ishmael and had obviously gotten very attached to him.  After all he was his son and he had a right to be close to him   

This was sheer agony for he loved Ishmael.  Abraham would have repented of his hasty ways, his stepping out and doing his own thing despite the promise of God.   

He did not want to give up Ishmael.  He was quite happy to let things go on the way they were.  He could not understand that having Ishmael and Isaac live together was not a trivial thing.  He did not want to change now. Now here was Sarah telling him that his desire could not be met.   

There were many things about the situation that troubled Abraham. Abraham was looking at this from a human point of view.  First let us look at the situation regarding Isaac and Ishmael.  To Abraham, they were brothers, family.  They should treat each other with a little more respect and care.  They should not provoke each other to evil or anything of the sort.   

Today just as then, when children are involved in any form of misconduct with respect to others, but even more so among their own brethren, it causes grief for the parents.  But for parents that is usually not enough to break up the relationship.  Abraham would have adopted this line of reasoning. 

Second, it troubled him that Sarah would go to this extreme knowing that this would separate a child, a son, from his father.  He probably thought that it might be enough to impose some type of harsh discipline on Ishmael, but at least be able to keep an eye on him. 

Sometimes it is necessary for parents to take extreme action to discipline their children, with the wisdom of God as their guide.  Especially when the child might be wicked and incorrigible, the parents must take decisive action to move them away from such paths, but still it weighs heavily upon them, such is the love of a parent for their child. 

Verse 12 – 13.   Abraham was troubled by his wife’s insistence on removing Ishmael from her and her son’s presence.  Since Abraham also loved his wife. Sarah, he did not want to displease her in any way, but clearly that would mean losing his son.  Faced with this decision to do the right thing, God intervened as Abraham struggled.  

It is strange, but sometimes God sees that we are having a bad problem with our desires and he delivers us by taking the desire out of our hearts. In some cases however, probably in most cases, God leaves the desires right there.  He knows that it will cost us anguish and distress, but He tells us to obey Him anyway.  He simply tells us that He would provide the strength for us to obey. 

It appears that God in his wisdom acts to delay his judgment, but at the appropriate time tells us that we did wrong.   

More often than not God delays his judgment until we are ready to give up the fruits of our self indulgence.  By that time he would have provided something of value to us to satisfy the longing of our hearts. He would have given us enough examples of his grace and his power to overcome all our difficulties and to deal appropriately with our old desires.  Then when He makes His move and calls on us to do what is right we have no reason not to obey. 

It is clear that Abraham loved Ishmael and that he wished to do the right thing in this case, including remaining faithful to the Lord.  He also wanted to keep his wife happy.  This might be speculation, but since Abraham did not act impetuously, it seems that he was waiting for instructions from God on how to proceed, since he himself could not come to terms with making this decision.  At this point God steps in to tell Abraham to do as Sarah says. Once God tells Abraham, he is more than content to obey.  God told his friend Abraham the reason for this particular course of action. 

God spoke decisively.  It was absolutely necessary that Ishmael go.  His seed would be established in Isaac. God would have known the difficulties Abraham would have had if Ishmael had stayed in the House.  Ishmael certainly would have had difficulties himself. 

Isaac was the child of promise, and it had to be made clear.  The terms of the rights and privileges set in the covenant between God and Abraham had to be established. All the promises, the Church, Christ, come from the loins of Isaac.  There is no mixing, or sharing of this promise made by God.   

God however, assures Abraham that Ishmael would be taken care of.   Also, it was wise to remove Ishmael from Isaac. If Ishmael mistreated Isaac now, when he realized more fully the blessings imparted to Isaac, then he might become even more resentful towards him.   

Concerning the throwing out of Ishmael, we can now understand that the action approved by God does not imply that Ishmael was spiritually ruined.  This act was done to separate and allow the child of promise to develop freely, so that the world may understand and know God through him.   

God had certain good intentions for Ishmael.  He later promised Abraham that Ishmael would also be the father of a nation, thus, the blessings of God would be upon him.  God did this for Abraham.   

God is not slack concerning his promises.  Abraham knew this and trusted God, that is why he was able to send Hagar and Ishmael away, because he knew God would look after them.  When God promised to make Ishmael a nation, we can see the power of God in full action.  He promises to take care of matters we cannot fully comprehend and take care of ourselves.  He controls the creation, rise and fall of nations, and controls their place or duration in history.   

God’s blessings would continue to fall on the just and the unjust, his chosen people and those who are separated from His covenant.  Ishmael would be blessed simply because he was a child of Abraham. God would bless Abraham both through Isaac and through Ishmael. That was the grace of God.

Verse 14.   God had spoken to Abraham and told him that this was it, no delay, no excuses.  He had made ample and generous provision for Abraham's children. Abraham trusted God.  And he obeyed. This was a man of faith.  

Note that God made promises and he made provision. 

With the decision to expel Ishmael and Hagar made, Abraham in the early morning proceeded to do just that.  It is not sure what instructions God gave to Abraham on how to proceed, but judging from what transpired, there were enough provisions given, that if they went in the direction they were to go, everything would be alright; such is the promise made to Abraham by God.   

As simplistic as it may seem, Abraham heard the voice of the Lord and obeyed that voice, in putting out Hagar and her son.  When he received directions from God on how to deal with his situation he did not hesitate in following through with what God said to do.   

All Abraham gave them was some bread and a bottle of water.  From what we know of Abraham, he was not selfish or stingy about what gifts he gave to people.  So perhaps these were part of the instructions issued to him by God.  They too would have to learn to depend on God for sustenance.  This was their first lesson. 

After the provisions were given, they were ushered towards the wilderness to their final destination which was not mentioned at this point.   

Abraham knew that God would provide for Hagar and Ishmael.  God had promised that Ishmael would be the father of a great nation.  So there would be no question in Abraham's mind that Ishmael would survive and do very well.  Abraham might have even given these assurances to Ishmael. 

What we must also note is that Hagar and Ishmael were in a good situation while they lived with Abraham and Sarah.  Despite the fact that Ishmael was not Abraham’s chief son, they were well treated.  Ishmael had a good life and would probably be very soft, not accustomed to the hardships of being in the wilderness.  He would now have to learn how to survive.  We will look at this in more detail shortly. 

It seems that there was no love lost between Sarah and Hagar.  Hagar was the maid and that was all that there was to it.  She had just had a son on behalf of Sarah by Abraham.  Her presence would not be missed it seems.  Ishmael’s presence would be missed by Abraham, but not by Sarah.  If Hagar and Ishmael had conducted themselves well in Abraham’s family, then they might have continued in that situation.  Their current state of affairs was in part due to their own pride and insolence and led to this particular chastisement by Sarah and Abraham.   

Note though that according to ancient practice which we learn from secular documents this practice of sending slaves away was allowed.  One writer refers to the laws of Lipit-Ishtar which govern life in the ancient Near East and which existed before the formally written Mosaic laws.  We are told:

“The key to Sarah’s demand lies in a clause in the laws of Lipit-Ishtar where it was stipulated that the father may grant freedom to the slave woman and the children she has borne him, in which case they forfeit their share of the paternal property.” 

If we consider the current practice, then Abraham was giving Hagar freedom from bondage by sending her away and this could be considered a legal act by Abraham. 

Note that though Ishmael would have been treated royally by Abraham, his mother still remained a slave.  As long as she lived under Sarah's control she would remain a slave.

So that situation had to be dealt with, for she would be the mother of a man that would be the head of a great nation, her status in the eyes of men would have to be changed. 

In addition, we note something that reflected unfavourably on Hagar's character.  We also see a similar reflection on Ishmael’s character and manhood. In verse 15 we are told that Hagar and Ishmael wandered about in the wilderness until the provisions given to them were spent.

Hagar was obviously very despondent.  When the provisions were exhausted she placed Ishmael under a shrub for protection from the elements.  

Hagar thought that Ishmael would surely die.  Since she had been a slave she would probably have been much stronger and would survive longer.  There is no indication that she had remembered any assurances previously given to her that the child would survive.   

Let us not forget that in Genesis 16 when she at had a run-in with Sarah and had fled from Sarah’s rough treatment, she had met the angel of the Lord who had told her that she would have a son and had told her what his name should be. The angel had told her what his life would be like and had given her assurances that he would survive a difficult life and be a leader. As a matter of fact she had responded by giving us one of the most beautiful  Names for God. Genesis 16: 13 records her statement after the angel spoke to her.

“And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, That I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Wherefore the well was called Beer-la-hai-roi.” 

The prophecy had been made that he would have a great and powerful family of his own.  Later we are told that he had twelve sons that would become the heads of twelve tribes. 

But note that Ishmael did not in any way resemble the powerful leader who would be a wild man with his hand against everyman, and everyman's hand against him.   

He was now quite understandably actually whimpering with fear at this stage.  Both he and his mother thought he would die.  This was despite what the angel had previously spoken to his mother.

Hagar had placed the child a little way off under a tree saying: “Let me not see the death of the child”. Then she lifted up her voice and wept. 

Let none of us think that we are any better than Hagar.  We all too often forget the promises of God, and what God has previously done for us. 

In times of distress we tend to remember what it was we had and that was likely the case here.  Hagar was in tears and did not know what to do.  At this point the crumbs at her master’s table would have been delightful.  If we compare her situation with that of believers and how God deals with us, we can learn a few things.  When distress falls upon anyone, they reminisce about a time when things were better.   

The fact of the matter is that God had kept us under his protection, and we didn’t acknowledge that this is what he was doing. For that matter, we took it for granted.  We then take advantage and trespass God’s laws resulting in a situation where we are separated from God’s direct grace, though this is not to say that he has totally forgotten us.  In this moment of distress, do we then seek to return with promises to do better!  Does this sound familiar?     

We too are given promises from God.  Even when we are sinful, and disobedient, there are provisions made for us.  God was looking out for Hagar and Ishmael, that was his promise and once again, God is not slack concerning his promises to anyone. 

God heard the cries of the child.  He is always there even when we don’t believe He is watching and waiting for us to repent.  Needless to say, at times of great distress we should try to remember God’s promises, for that will surely assist us in our situation.  The second admonition is that we call upon God and ask him for mercy.  Who else is full of mercy and grace, who will help us out of our distress? 

Verse 17.   God answered the prayers or calls of distress from Ishmael. God would protect and preserve any child of Abraham. 

The angel of the Lord then calls from heaven to tell Hagar not to be distressed. This was her second encounter with the angel.

 The angel assured her that the mighty and living God had heard her and the child and would assist them.  We do not know what words were spoken by her or Ishmael, just that God heard them.  God understands the unspoken sighs and groans that we make.  He understands the unspoken words of grief, for He is our Maker, He knows us better than we know ourselves. 

Hagar at this point might have remembered the other time she was visited in the wilderness by the voice of the Lord.    How comfort was given to her then and how at this moment, comfort was near by.  The angel said that God was aware of her current situation and assured her that everything would be alright.  God is capable of hearing our cries no matter where we are.  He is able to impart help no matter where we are.  Such is the power of God.

Verse 18.   God now gave Hagar specific instructions.  She was to get up and take up the child in her hand. 

She was reminded that God would make her son Ishmael the father of  a great nation. Obviously she would share in this glory. 

This pampered boy needed to become a man of stature through some difficult experiences.  This was not God punishing him but this was God's way of bringing blessing to him.  He would never have become a sturdy father of a great nation, a man of substance and a great leader if he had stayed in the House of Abraham, constantly being attacked by Sarah.  For then he would have developed into a man full of hatred.

He had to make his own way in the world and grow up knowing that God would provide for his needs because he was a son of Abraham. 

God certainly knew what he was doing.  He always does the right thing at the right time. 

God’s readiness to help us when we are in trouble must not weaken our resolve, but quicken our endeavours to help ourselves out of our current situations.  When considering young children and young people, we do not know what plans God has for them.  However, as elders, parents or guardians we hopefully are able to hear the wisdom that God has taught us over our lives and can share our children.  We are clearly to teach them the word of God, so that they will have a firm foundation in the things of God, and hopefully will not depart from God as they grow older, but move closer to Him as the years go by.   

Nevertheless, the future of every young person is in God’s care.  Just as how he had plans for Isaac and Ishmael he now directs Hagar what to do in order to ensure that they could be realized.   That is what God asks of all of us, so that we might realize all of the blessings he has in store.   

Clearly, the role of a mother is very important. 

Nowadays we hear so much about situations where women are having to bring up their children by themselves, a very difficult task.  However, we all must remember when we are going through our times of distress that God does really exist. If we ever forget that our children will inevitably be in trouble. When a mother learns to lean on God, she and her children will thrive. The pressures will be considerable but the angels of the Lord will come to help those who truly call on Him. 

It might not seem that God is listening, but nothing escapes Him. He is omniscient. Constantly crying to God and developing patience in not easy but it has to be done. The rewards are great.

This of course does not remove the responsibilities of the brethren to work as servants of God and help those in any kind of distress. God has given every believer that specific responsibility and we all will be judged on what we have or have not done. If we are saved and walk in fellowship with God, our actions will mirror the loving and compassionate actions of God. 

The pressure on Hagar was certainly great but she knew that God was with her and with the lad.  He did grow up and he did grow stronger even though living in a harsh environment.  He thrived and was a testimony to the power and grace of God.  Later we are told that he had twelve sons and was in fact a great nation.  He came back to cooperate with Isaac to bury his father and stood beside Isaac as a man of stature. 

Unfortunately we are told that Ishmael's mother did not learn the lesson to totally depend on God even though she knew God.  We are told that she took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.  She failed that test and that did no good to Ishmael. 

Hagar did not keep Ishmael following the ways of Abraham His father and she associated him in an intimate way with people outside the sphere of his father.

CONCLUSION

We can learn many lessons from this text. We should learn that there is a way of God which leads to righteousness and success. There is only one way to life everlasting and it is narrow. 

We should learn not to associate ourselves with the ways of the ‘flesh’.  It might have seemed very difficult to Abraham but he eventually obeyed and Isaac was blessed.  Hagar obviously had great difficulties in listening to God and it did no good to her or her son.

Let us focus on the fact that when Abram obeyed God and did what was difficult and painful to him it led to good for those around him.  It led to good for both Isaac Ishmael.  And of course it led to great good for us.

It is sincerely hoped we all will come to understand that we should shut the door forever on the ‘flesh’.  If Abraham had not come to shut the door on depending on the ‘flesh’, when God tested him and told him to go up on Mount Moriah and sacrifice Isaac, it would have been no great deal to him because he would have known that he had another son waiting in the wings if Isaac had died.

But now, with all his eggs in one basket, Abraham was willing to obey God and to believe that God would raise Isaac from the dead if necessary.  That is what makes Abraham now a man completely trusting and resting in God and therefore is an example of great faith. 

We too had better put all our eggs in one basket.  There can be no Plan B that will make it easier to trust God.  God will always ask us to take the step of rejecting dependence on everything else but Him.   

If we are to be good to the world we will find our self going through Abraham’s type of distress when we give up the safety net that we have created for ourselves. 

The Christian life is walking the tightrope of trusting God. 

So let us ask our self the question, Do we want the true life of faith, or do we want the life of trusting in God plus having a Plan B? This latter choice will not work.  If we follow that line we will never pass the many tests that God will bring to us.  Abraham went on to pass that great test when he was told to give up Isaac.