Upon seeing Ishmael mocking little Isaac, Sarah recognized the mistake of having given her servant Hagar to Abraham to bear the heir. This act, known as the work of the flesh, represented a human attitude, not a divine one. God never needs help, for He knows what is right and knows the end of all things. Upon understanding the will of the Lord, Sarah demanded that Hagar and her son be sent away.

      She was insistent with the patriarch, for she did not want to suffer later on, in case a tragedy occurred in her house. This greatly displeased Abraham, to the point of seeking God's help to spare Ishmael from wandering the world and perhaps not even surviving. But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called (Genesis 21:12).

      About Ishmael, the father of the Arabs, the Almighty had a word of consolation for Abraham: Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed” (Genesis 21:13). He also said that 12 princes would arise from Ishmael and all would be powerful among humanity. Follow the divine plan, for in Him there is no error or flaw. The Lord is perfect in everything He thinks, does, or decides. Walking with Him is walking in victory!

       Sarah heard from God that Ishmael would be blessed, but without sharing in the inheritance of Isaac, our salvation. One day, a boy would be born from the blood of Abraham who would become the Messiah and die to save us. Everything the Bible says about Jesus has already happened; therefore, nothing more needs to be done for our liberation from the kingdom of darkness, from sin, from all evil, including diseases, griefs, and sorrows (Isaiah 53:4-6). We are more than conquerors in Christ!

       Today, Jews, Arabs, and other peoples can partake in Isaac's inheritance, for Jesus went to the cross to die for everyone. He descended into Hell and stripped the devil of the authority usurped from Adam, with which he oppressed us in every way (Colossians 2:15). Now, it is enough to believe in the Bible, rebuke the enemy and all his schemes within us, so that we can go to the end without letting him dominate us again. We are truly free (Romans 8:1)!

        By believing in the revelations of the New Testament, we become successful, for we have been given the power to crush demons, as well as the most devastating diseases and all the influence of the evil one: Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19). It is time to use this power over the enemy's hegemony.

        You may feel afraid to act boldly in faith, but understand: this fear is a victory for the devil in your life and has no basis. You have authority to trample on the adversary! See what the Scriptures say about the One who truly defeats the enemy, as declared by the victorious King David: Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies (Psalm 60:12). In other words, you position yourself in Christ and tread, but God achieves the victory!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares