In life, we are faced with a variety of painful separations. Loved ones move far away, romantic relationships dissolve, loved ones stray from living for God, and loved ones die. The Bible speaks to this sad reality by telling us about painful separations that have been experienced by those who have lived long ago.
In Genesis, chapter 21 we witness a painful separation when Sarah tells Abraham that his firstborn son and the boy’s mother must be sent away for good. This separation was emotional as well as physical. Abraham’s heart was broken over the prospect of a rupture of such close relationships. But, God spoke to Abraham and told him to go ahead with banishing Ishmael and Hagar forever. We are not told how Abraham grieved over this loss, but it was likely done in private.
We see a second painful separation when Hagar, banished along with her son in the desert, runs out of water. She leaves her son, Ishmael, in the shade of a bush to die a slow, agonizing death. Hagar could not even bear watching her son die by inches, so she left him and wept. God heard Ishmael’s prayer and sent an angel to tell Hagar to return to the boy and comfort him. God then revealed a well, so Hagar ran to the well and brought water to the parched lips of her son.
Knowing that God sees our plight and hears our prayers should be a comfort to us in times when we go through our own painful separations.
The Bible / Old Testament (Genesis 21:9-19)
09 But Sarah saw Ishmael— the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar— making fun of Isaac.
10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that servant and her son. He is not going to share the family inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”
11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son.
12 But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant wife. Do just as Sarah says, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.
13 But I will make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he also is your son.”
14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food for the journey, and strapped a container of water to Hagar’s shoulders. He sent her away with their son, and she walked out into the wilderness of Beersheba, wandering aimlessly.
15 When the water was gone, she left the boy in the shade of a bush.
16 Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.
17 Then God heard the boy’s cries, and the angel of God called to Hagar from the sky, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy’s cries from the place where you laid him.
18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”
19 Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well. She immediately filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.
Abraham’s situation was not the same as Hagar’s. Each of them experienced intense pain because of a different situation. Abraham knew that he would never again see his firstborn son, Ishmael. Hagar thought Ishmael was going to die. Death is not the only painful separation we face in life. Our hearts can be broken and our tears can flow because of a variety of painful separations.
Did you notice what God did to comfort Abraham’s heart? God spoke to Abraham’s core concern, allowing Ishmael, his firstborn son to live, and even have an inheritance.
Did you notice what God did to comfort Hagar? God kept Ishmael from dying of thirst.
God knows our innermost needs and concerns. God hears our prayers. And, God can meet our deepest needs and calm our deepest fears when life’s trials burden our hearts with sorrow. When we find ourselves weak and even sick unto death, God can provide us with hope for a new life.
The Bible / New Testament (Hebrews 5:7)
7 While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could deliver him out of death. And God heard his prayers because of his reverence for God.
8 So even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.
(James 4:9-10)
09 Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
10 When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.
(Revelation 7:17)
17 For the Lamb who stands in front of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away all their tears.”
The words of a hymn, “Dying With Jesus”, penned by D. W. Whittle in 1920 speak about our relationship to Jesus Christ. The hymn writer states so clearly that our life has to be lived, “moment by moment” looking to Jesus and trusting Him; trusting Him to forgive us for our sin. And, in return, we are to realize that we are “kept in His love”.
Listen to the message of this hymn of sound counsel and comfort penned by D. W. Whittle with music by May Whittle Moody, “Dying With Jesus”.
“Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine; living with Jesus, a new life divine.
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine, moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.”
Chorus
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love. Moment by moment I’ve life from above.
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine. Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
“Never a trial that He is not there, never a burden that He doth not bear.
Never a sorrow that He doth not share. Moment by moment I’m under His care.”
Chorus
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love. Moment by moment I’ve life from above.
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine. Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
“Never a heartache and never a groan, never a teardrop and never a moan.
Never a danger but there on the throne, moment by moment, He thinks of His own.”
Chorus
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love. Moment by moment I’ve life from above.
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine. Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
“Never a weakness that He doth not feel, never a sickness that He cannot heal.
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal, Jesus my Savior abides with me still.”
Chorus
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love. Moment by moment I’ve life from above.
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine. Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.