The Justice Mindset

I was listening to Christian radio on the way to my wife’s BYU Christmas party.  The guy was talking about Sara having a baby at 90 years old and how everyone was laughing.  Later when Isaac was weaned, Ishmael starting laughing at her and the child in a mocking, derisive way.  Sarah wanted Ishmael and the mother banished.  Abraham goes to the Lord.  He must have been very disturbed to do what Sarah told him to do.  The Lord tell Abraham to do what Sarah requested.

The radio compared it to the law and mercy.  Ishmael is symbolic of the law and Isaac is symbolic of grace and mercy.  The law exacts justice, is hard, laughs at our weaknesses, tells us that there isn’t any redemption from past mistakes, that there isn’t anything that can be done.  Mercy is a miracle (like Isaac), that says anything is possible.  It is tied to forgiveness.  It is soft, kind, and patient. 

So, when Sarah boots Hagar and Ishmael out the camp, it’s like getting rid of the justice oriented mind set out of our own head.  If we are law (justice) oriented, we are hard on ourselves.  It’s all about the mindset.  We either believe we are under the law or in Christ.  I want to enveloped in the robes of mercy.