“Power of the Oath”

Genesis 21: 18-19: “’Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him by the hand; for I will make a great nation of him.’ Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink.” Before the Lord told Hagar what lay in store for Ishmael (apparently Abraham said not a word) she was hopeless; she saw no water; she expected them both to die. (vv. 14-16) But the instant she received God’s oath concerning Ishmael and she knew he had a purpose her eyes were opened, and they experienced the Lord’s presence. The key: finding their purpose in God’s promise.