The Lord Who Hears

Ishmael's mocking and that of his mother did not go unnoticed by the Lord. Sarah is acting as a spiritual woman of faith when she assesses the danger of continuing to allow this mocking spirit in their midst and insists that Hagar and Ishmael be removed. Paul is able to apply this as a lesson in Galatians 4:21ff to show how it represents to us that we must not permit enmity toward the gospel to be in the church. In Paul's day, it was the destructive doctrine of salvation by works. It was and is bondage to the Christian and stands for Hagar and the bondage that her life and words stand for. But whilst there is no compromise with this attitude and Hagar and Ishmael must leave, the Lord hears Ishmael's prayer and saves him and his mother. The Lord does hear unbelievers and bring blessing even thought it does not imply that they will be saved.

We should take great encouragement that, as the Lord heard them in the desert, the Lord can hear us too. He hears everywhere in the world, all the time. He is not deceived by sin's deceitfulness and we cannot hide from Him. He also hears the desires and longings of the godly. But we have to ask ourselves whether there is anything arising from our hearts by way of prayer that the Lord can hear.