Child’s Play can be very Damaging

Child’s Play can be very Damaging

Making fun of others can cause a lot of pain.

When Isaac was weaned,

Abraham throws a party.

Ishmael, Abraham’s son by the Egyptian maid servant,

mocked Isaac.

Ishmael’s poking fun at Isaac created a lot of trouble.

Sarah in verses 6 & 7,

 shows it is a wonderful thing to laugh “with” someone.

But, Sarah is enraged when her son is made fun of.

Sarah takes this little act of poking fun to a new level

as she storms over to Abraham

and demands he gets rid of Ishmael

and his mother, Hagar.

Abraham now becomes distressed

as sides are being drawn between his two sons.

God steps in and tries to put things back together.

God says,

Don’t be distressed.

Don’t let this thing get in the way of your judgment.

God says,

Be a “listener” hear your wife Sarah.

Recognizing where she is right

– Isaac is to receive the inheritance

because he is the son of promise.

God reassures Abraham

He will take care of Hagar and Ishmael.

Whether it is a child or an adult,

a little poking fun

can creates a lot of hurt and distress.

Not only are people hurt,

but judgments are many times clouded,

only making the problems worse.

Let’s make it our goal

to rejoice with those who rejoice;

and avoid foolish talk and jestering.

Scripture Reading

Genesis 21:5-21 THE MESSAGE

5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born.

6 Sarah said, God has blessed me with laughter

and all who get the news will laugh with me!

7 She also said,

Whoever would have suggested to Abraham that Sarah would one day nurse a baby!

Yet here I am! I've given the old man a son!

8 The baby grew and was weaned.

Abraham threw a big party on the day Isaac was weaned.

9 One day Sarah saw the son that Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham,

poking fun at her son Isaac.

10 She told Abraham, "Get rid of this slave woman and her son.

No child of this slave is going to share inheritance with my son Isaac!"

11 The matter gave great pain to Abraham — after all, Ishmael was his son.

12 But God spoke to Abraham, "Don't feel badly about the boy and your maid.

Do whatever Sarah tells you.

Your descendants will come through Isaac.

13 Regarding your maid's son,

be assured that I'll also develop a great nation from him — he's your son too."

14 Abraham got up early the next morning,

got some food together and a canteen of water for Hagar,

put them on her back and sent her away with the child.

She wandered off into the desert of Beersheba.

15 When the water was gone, she left the child under a shrub

16 and went off, fifty yards or so.

She said, "I can't watch my son die."

 As she sat, she broke into sobs.

17 Meanwhile, God heard the boy crying.

The angel of God called from Heaven to Hagar, "What's wrong, Hagar?

Don't be afraid. God has heard the boy and knows the fix he's in.

18 Up now; go get the boy. Hold him tight.

I'm going to make of him a great nation."

19 Just then God opened her eyes.

She looked. She saw a well of water.

She went to it and filled her canteen and gave the boy a long, cool drink.

20 God was on the boy's side as he grew up.

He lived out in the desert and became a skilled archer.

21 He lived in the Paran wilderness.

And his mother got him a wife from Egypt.

(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Romans 12:15-21 NIV

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

16 Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath,

for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

20 On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."  

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Ephesians 5:4-5 NIV

4 Nor should there be obscenity,

foolish talk or coarse joking,

which are out of place,

but rather thanksgiving.