The Envy of Ishmael

Now we brethren as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now Galatians 4: 28,29.

When brothers differ so greatly as Isaac and Ishmael, it is no surprise if they experience unkind feelings toward one another. Ishmael was the older of the two, and when the time came to wean Isaac, there was a great feast to celebrate the occasion. But Sarah saw the son of the bondwoman (Ishmael) mocking her son Isaac. And whatever Sarah saw upset her to the extent that she would no longer permit Hagar and Ishmael to be a part of their household.

If we are "children of promise" and striving to possess God’s life, we can expect to meet some resistance. You see, someone in bondage cannot comfortably exist in harmony with someone who is free (see Genesis 21:10). No matter how hard they try to make it together, in some way the enmity will soon display itself.

I am not speaking of the wicked world against the church. I am speaking of church-going religious folks against God’s chosen spiritually directed children. It wasn’t the Philistines who assaulted Isaac, it was his brother; a close relative who shared life with him. It is a known fact that our keenest and most sinister opposition comes from those claiming to "know the man". You cannot count the number of God’s children who have suffered at the hands of church folks, especially proud domineering manipulative men.

The envy of Ishmael caused him to respond to Isaac in a negative way. Because if envy, Ishmael wanted Isaac’s advantage. He desired it so badly, that he lived in pain. He was so selfish, greedy and resentful, that he wanted to have it all. He could never be satisfied sharing an inheritance. He was unable to enjoy what he had, or to focus on God’s promises on his behalf.

Ishmael felt threatened at the thought of this little boy having the preeminence over him. So he mocked, made fun of him and called him a thief. He would have enjoyed getting rid of Isaac. This reminds me of the parable where the householder rented his vineyard out to farmers. When the harvest arrived, the owner sent servants to his portion. But the farmers refused, and sent the servants away wounded. Finally the owner sent his son saying, "They will reverence my son" see Matthew 21:37.

Well, he was wrong. When they saw his sin, they reasoned that if they killed the heir, they would have it all. That’s the mentality of envious church folks; kill the one with the anointing and the vision. Envious people are reckless and won’t do what’s required to walk in God’s anointing. Instead they envy the hope, peace, joy and favor of the free child.

The envy if Ishmael displayed itself most at the great weaning feast if Isaac. All of the music and celebration should have been a joyous occasion, but Ishmael was miserable. While true family were rejoicing, he was crying. When God is blessing you, don’t be surprised if somebody gets mad. Not everyone is excited about your spirituality.

When Ishmael looked at little Isaac and all the pomp and celebration going on, it was all so strange to him. It is natural and proper for a child of God to live and walk by faith, but to the worldly mind, it is strange. If you were of the world, the world would love you, but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you John 15:19.

The envy of Ishmael is one of thousands of proofs of the enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. You see, Abraham passed through Egypt, and while he was there, he acted like he didn’t have a God. God because of Sarah reproved the king of Egypt. The handmaid, Hagar, was given to Sarah as part of the restitution to make things right with God and Abraham. And that brought the element of evil into the camp. Sarah, in her most frustrated moment, gave her handmaid to her husband, thereby causing her to shed many tears.

Listen. No association that godly people have with Hagar and Ishmael will change them. Ishmael in Abraham’s house is still Ishmael. Communion won’t change him, and neither will baptism. If you were to lie down on the floor and let him walk on you, it still wouldn’t change him. Even though Ishmael was the blood son of Abraham, he could never change the fact that he was born to a slave girl.

Listen. It’s not a shameful thing to trust God. It is an honor. It is a joy for a good man to trust the God of no failure; a God who cannot lie; a God who never sleeps. If we have to suffer for believing God, then bring it on. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience James 1: 2,3. No matter what happens, we can never give up the grace we have received through living on the promises of God.

Jesus was despised and rejected of men. He experienced sorrow and was acquainted with grief. He was abandoned and forsaken, left alone to thread the grapes of the wrath of God. If we are to partake of His glory, we must be willing to partake of His suffering also.

We are like Isaac was, the sons of promise. Although the envy we face is great, the greater One is inside of us. And because He is alive forever, we can enjoy success in this life.