I was flipping through my bible yesterday morning and noticed by Genesis 21 where I wrote back in November of 2019 *Commit to pray for the Ishmaelite/Muslim race*
Full confession I have not consistently prayed this prayer that I committed to in 2019. It has been a rare occurrence, I was convicted when I read what I wrote. I also don’t think it’s by chance that I flipped to that passage yesterday morning. I’ve been in the Psalms and New Testament lately so to be in Genesis was unlikely but timely (like God always is) considering the events that are currently unfolding in Afghanistan.
The state of affairs has shifted drastically in the past week for the Afghani people. There have been images of Afghani citizens frantically running behind and trying to climb on moving US military aircraft in an attempt to escape the Taliban regime that is taking over their nation. They are fearful of what lies in the days ahead of them. Reports from underground churches in Afghanistan state that there is a hit list of known Christians that the Taliban is going to target and kill. It is overwhelming to contemplate. And true to human nature just one scroll of social media and you see many people casting blame. It’s not a partisan or policy issue but a dark vs. light issue. Evil vs. Good.
We have brothers in sisters in Christ that would highly covet our prayers in the Afghanistan. The past 20 years in that nation have been in preparation for such a time as this. I admire deeply those that have committed to continue to advance the gospel in Afghanistan, knowing very well it could cost them their lives.
We are all One Body in Christ Jesus, let us petition Heaven for our fellow believers in Afghanistan and the surrounding Arab nations. Pray that their faith may not fail. (Luke 22:32) Pray that they would cling tightly to the eternal life that is theirs in Christ Jesus. (1 Tim 6:12) Pray they rejoice to share in the sufferings of Christ Jesus. (1 Peter 4:13) Pray that their hearts will be flooded with light so that they can understand the confident hope they have in Jesus. (Eph 1:18)
The passage in Genesis 21 about Hagar and Ishmael along with the commentary from C.H. Spurgeon prompted me to write to commit to pray for the Muslim nations back in 2019, though I fell short on my commitment. I am thankful to come across that passage again, God is faithful even when we are unfaithful.
Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well. So she went and filled the waterskin and gave the boy a drink. Genesis 21:19
“Then God opened her eyes” The same God who divides the Red Sea and makes the Jordan dry up also opens a poor woman’s eyes. The same God who came with all his chariots of fire to Paran and with all his holy ones to Sinai and made the mountains utterly to smoke in his presence is he of whom we read, “And God opened Hagar’s eye.” God, by opening Hagar’s eye, secured the existence of the Ishmaelite race, which even to this day remains: from the little comes the great. There may be persons present who need but little to enable them to enter into eternal life; they need only that their eyes should be opened. May the Lord grant them that favor! O that he may now bid many a Hagar see his salvation! Why should the thirsty souls wait any longer? Everything is ready. They are on the borders of salvation, but they need their eyes to be opened. -C.H. Spurgeon on Genesis 21:19
God opened Hagar’s eyes. Her eyes weren’t literally closed, He opened her spiritual eyes to reveal something she couldn’t see. She received a revelation from God. It’s a miracle. Only God can open eyes and reveal what is not seen.
Join me in praying that the eyes of the non-believers would be opened to see Eternal Life in Christ Jesus. Many in Afghanistan are fearing for their lives. Pray this fear drives them to Jesus. Pray God uses His people that He has called and equipped in Afghanistan to do His work. Nothing has been wasted, God’s ways are higher than our ways, His Word is being carried out, as it is written.
Heavenly Father open their eyes!
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
I'm Just Irene 