Genesis 21 is the story of Isaac's miraculous birth and the sending away of Ishmael and his mom, Hagar. Casting them out might seem cold and harsh but it is absolutely crucial for us to do. Paul in Galatians 4 allegorizes this story. He says it stands for a spiritual reality going on inside us. Isaac and Ishmael are in us. They are fighting. You know what I mean. Just read Romans 7.
Before you're saved you were fairly content. You didn't think about your soul that much. After you're saved it seems you have a battle. The old nature while defeated is still there and raises up its ugly head. We can overcome it. Ephesians 4: 22-24: " You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires: to be made new in the attitude of your minds: and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."   

When you read Gen. 20 you think, haven't I read this same story before? And the answer would be yes you have, Gen 12:10-20. It was Egypt that time, it's Gerar this time. Abraham tells Sarah to say that he's her brother and he'd say she's his sister. He did it to protect himself. Each time it put Sarah in danger and damaged his reputation. At Gerar, it caused women to become barren, almost cost the king his life and put into question who the father of soon to be born Isaac. This was a bad sin and Abraham keeps on repeating it.

Don't we? What is your besetting sin? That moral weakness in your character that you repeat over and over? As I came to Gen 20 I was surprised at what I found. I found a God who went out of His way to protect Abraham from the harm that could have been the result of his sin.  Abraham and Sarah both were  blessed financially, God used Abraham's prayers to heal the king and his harem, and God forgave him.

If you love God and confess your sin, it doesn't have to mean its over. God is a merciful God. Romans 2:4- ...not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance.   

As fathers, in the attempt to give our families the" best"  we sometimes make decisions that seriously damage them. This was Lot. We see a progression of error.

It starts with a look (Gen.13:10). He saw Sodom. It reminded him of Egypt where he got rich. Egypt stands for the world in Scripture. Then he chose for himself, verse 11, knowing the area was full of the worst kind of sinning, verses 12-13. At first he moves into the suburbs. By 14:12 he lives inside the city. In 19:1 he's sitting at the city gate. That means he is a city official in some capacity. He has been sucked in and now is a part of it.
Two angels are sent to warn him to take his family and flee. But 19:16 says he hesitated. His soul was so enmeshed and entangled in this wicked place he didn't want to leave with destruction hanging over his head! The angels had to drag them out. The angels warn them not to look back. Lot's wife did and became a pillar of salt.

Jesus said, "remember Lot's wife." Their story is instructive to us who live in a wealthy, materialistic country. Are we putting the material above the spiritual?

Genesis 18 is about a man who was a friend of God. Because God had a relationship with Abraham He wanted to let him in on what He was about to do, destroy Sodom and the cities of the plain. The text says that they walked and talked together and that God revealed His mind and heart to Abraham. Abraham was concerned about Sodom because his nephew Lot lived there. He began to engage God in what seems like bartering for souls. It really is intercession. God has a burden on His heart. He lays that burden on His friend the intercessor and the intercessor goes back and forth with God till he dispatches the burden. When he or she is convinced God has heard he stops praying. She then waits and watches. What burden has the Lord laid on you to intercede for?   

Thirteen years. That's a long time in any relationship, especially if it is silent. We have no record of contact between God and Abraham from when Ishmael was born and Gen. 17. Abraham is now 99. Perhaps he thinks the promise made to him will be fulfilled through Ishmael? God Almighty shows up and renews the covenant promise and gives Abraham new hope.

We have times like that in our lives. Silence between us and God. Usually it's on our end. We get ahead of God or lag behind. We do our own thing. Maybe God is finished with us? Then He shows up and renews our hope once again. If you are at this place today, take heart. God will complete His Plan A inyour life.