Travelling or running away?

Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.

God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. Genesis 21:14-20

So often there is more than one way to read a story. Here in the middle of the formational story of Abraham, the father of faith, the obedient one known as righteous, is this shameful story of the great man trying to get rid of the consequences of bad decisions by sending Hagar and her child away. How  many of us recognise this temptation to run away from our problems- or if it is in our power, to send them packing? Travelling can be an avoidance tactic, and perhaps we hope that if we keep on going, we won't have to hear the tears of those who we have hurt.

Hope comes to Hagar in her journey of despair from the God who Abraham claims is His. Her child is Abraham's son, but we must wonder what he learns about his father as he grows up. What we learn about our Father is that He is not concerned about greatness, reputation or even past obedience. He is listening to our heart today, and where-ever we find ourselves, He hears us when we cry.