Doing the Right Thing Even When I Don’t Have To

“His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him…” (Gen 25:9)

He could have stayed away. It would have been against all tradition not to come, but given how his father had sent them away, why should he go? Especially since he’d have to see the favored brother. He could have let anger and hurt and bitterness dictate his actions. And no one would have blamed him.

In the book of Genesis we get the account of Abraham and of the two sons he fathered: Ishmael by Hagar and Isaac by Sarah.

Abraham favored Isaac. Some would say rightfully so because he was the one through whom God would renew the covenant He made with Abraham. Ishmael was sent away with his mother. Sent away from the family but not sent to anywhere. Abraham gave Hagar some food and some water and just sent them away. If not for the provision and protection of God, they would have perished. Life was not fair for Ishmael in that moment. That is the kind of moment that becomes a breeding ground for contempt and anger and estrangement.

When Abraham was old, and after Sarah died, he had other sons by another wife. The only thing we know about these other sons are their names and that they too were sent away. However, before Abraham died he gave gifts to these other sons from his wealth. They did not leave empty handed.

Ishmael got nothing more that we are aware of. Isaac received everything else.

Yet, when it came time to bury his father, Ishmael was there. He came from wherever he had settled to honor the man who had sent him away. He came to stand with Isaac, the favored brother. The other sons are not mentioned. Just Ishmael and Isaac.

This is one of the last references we have of Ishmael and I wondered why God wanted us to know this.

I think it is this. No matter what may have happened, no matter what the history is, no matter how wrongly we have been treated, we can rise above it and do the right thing.

Most of us can probably point to some experience of unfairness in our lives. One brother pays his way through state college while the other one is sent to an Ivy League school. Two new members join the family through marriage and one is accepted and the other is not. You are fired because you perform “too well” and the company doesn’t want to pay you what you have earned. These are all circumstances that can create an attitude in our hearts of discord with others. They can create estrangement in families and friendships. We can allow them to justify our wrong actions. Who would blame the one son for refusing to take care of his parents? Who would blame the one in-law when she quits trying? Who would blame you for just leaving and taking your clients with you?

Who would blame us?  Probably no one. But we learn from Ishmael that no matter what the history is between us and others, we can set that aside and do the right thing.

I have witnessed this powerfully lived out in the life of a friend of mine. My friend has recently experienced some hard personal disappointments. This friend was passed over for a certain job opportunity and then other things happened that helped to pile hurt upon hurt. Life was definitely not fair. And yet, this friend said yes when asked to step in to temporarily fill the empty spot knowing that it would never be permanent. I truly admire this. I would have been far more likely to react out of my wounded pride and say no.

Whatever Ishmael may have felt toward his father or his brother he set that aside to bury Abraham. Whatever my friend felt, those feelings were set aside to do the right thing.

This begs that we ask this question of ourselves: What is the right thing we are supposed to be doing that we aren’t doing because we are allowing the unfairness of a situation or circumstance to dictate our actions?  Who do we need to call?  Who or what do we need to forgive? Who do we need to go see?

Ask the Lord to reveal it. When He does, act on it. Do the right thing. Whatever that is.

Living Holy,

Denise