Don’t Confuse Sentiment for Confirmation

Kathy — Sometimes we confuse sentiment for confirmation. When others sense our despair they offer encouragement that we take as confirmation to take action but sentiment is not the same as wisdom. “Ishmaels” are the result of unauthorized action or behavior. Jesus had all authority, yet He only did what He saw the Father doing. Jn.5:19, NASB — “Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way.”  Ishmael is NOT what we see the Father doing, Ishmael is what we hope He will condone.  ‎The results of an Ishmael carry over on others for generations. Ishmael: “God will hear”- that represents an injustice on the innocent that God will not ignore. Once the fruit of compromise is born it takes on a life of its own. However, the better news is that the existence of an Ishmael does not stop God’s purpose in Isaac. The future can still bring glory to God because our Redeemer lives. (Ps.19:14)