Genesis 21:32-34 is one of those sections of Scripture we skim over pretty quickly. At the beginning of chapter 21, we read about the exciting birth of Isaac and the problems that developed with Hagar and Ishmael. Chapter 22 is a very important chapter dealing with Abraham's faith and the offering of Isaac as a sacrifice. So, chapter 21, verses 32-34 are often missed in our study of Abraham. But what Abraham does here is an important key to understanding who he was.

After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. But Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

The Bible says, Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time. Why? It appears at first glance that all he does is sit under a tree.

It is not a matter of Abraham running but relaxing. It is not a matter of him avoiding responsibility but recharging his batteries to face the stress of everyday life. Sometimes it is important to "chill out". To relax, to stop and smell the roses.

Virginia Brasier wrote:

This is the age

Of the half read page.

And the quick hash

And the mad dash.

The bright night

With the nerves tight.

The plane hop

And the brief stop.

The lamp tan

In a short span.

The Big Shot

In a good spot.

And the brain strain

And the heart pain.

And the cat naps

Till the spring snaps -

And the fun's done.

We are so busy sometimes, we no longer have time for prayer or Bible reading or listening to God. When was the last time you spent more than five minutes doing those things other than on Sunday morning? Just like Abraham, we need to find our tamarisk tree, plant it and stay under its shade for a long time!

The trouble is, many of us have forgotten how to worship! We come to church and work. We teach Sunday School, serve at the table, play our instruments and preach our sermons. All these things are important but worship is more than doing, it is also listening.

Have you ever heard the phrase, "I'd rather burn out than rust out"? It sounds impressive. A hard worker, somebody dedicated and motivated to give 110% all the time. But whichever you do, burn out or rust out, you end up in the same place - out.

It was a typical busy day: I had some hospital calls to make, a lesson to prepare, some phone calls to return, letters and articles to read. Add to that a report for the board meeting that evening and I just did not have time to come home early.

I did make an appearance at supper. After gobbling a sandwich and saying hello and goodbye, I left for the board meeting. Like most board meetings, this one ran long and I did not get home until almost eleven o'clock.

The next morning, I had a 6:00 breakfast meeting with the elders so I was out of the house before anyone got up. Later, while my youngest daughter was getting ready for school, she asked my wife where I was. "At church," she said.

After pausing a moment to put it all together she asked, "Did daddy sleep there?"

Where was the balance? The work was important but isn't the family? I could claim I was doing God's work but was I spending time with God or simply working for him? I needed to slow down and listen. My daughter's question forced me to hear.

The trouble though, with slowing down is what do we do? How do we relax? For many, relaxing is more time consuming and exhausting than working. For others, relaxing is a state of vegetation where you do not move, think, feel, or do anything.

When Abraham slowed down, he called upon the name of the Lord. In other words, he spent time worshipping and being with God. He quietly listened to what God had to say to him. He apparently did not teach a lesson, plan a program, offer a public prayer, or write a great song or sermon. He just listened.

According to Genesis 21:22-31, Abraham and his men had dug a well and Abimelech and his men took it. Abraham complained about this and the two men made a treaty giving the well back to Abraham.

This seems to be a pretty petty problem for Abraham to be worrying about. There were many more important issues facing him. Yet Abraham spent some time concentrating on getting his well back. This well had become a source of refreshment for Abraham in the dry desert. It was a place he could go to and get away from the pressures of his world. It was important for Abraham to get this well back.

Do you have a place where you can get away from everything? It doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive or far away. Just a place you can take a few minutes to relax, focus on God, and be refreshed.

When we ministered in Hoopeston, Illinois, there was a hospital in town but there were two hospitals in Danville, a half hour away and three hospitals in Champaign, an hour away. If anybody was going to have surgery, or have a baby or needed intense medical care, they would go to one of the hospitals in Danville or Champaign. For real serious cases, they might even go to Indianapolis or Chicago, both two hours away.

This meant I spent a lot of time in my car driving to these various places. I did not mind because not only do I enjoy driving, but my time alone in the car became my retreat. I composed and preached my best sermons to myself going down state route 1 to Danville. I had the best prayer time cruising interstate 57 to Champaign. And I had plenty of time to reflect and become focused going up U.S. 45 to Chicago or driving interstate 74 to Indianapolis.

If you do not have a place to retreat: like your bedroom or a place at the park or in your car, find one! When you find it, guard it closely. And just like Abraham, do not let anyone take it away from you.

May I suggest, the reason verses 32-34 are included here is to show us the importance of being refreshed. What would it have been like if Abraham was constantly under stress? Would he have cracked under the pressure? Would he have run off instead of taking Isaac to Moriah? Would the death of his beloved Sarah in chapter 23 taken away his will to live?

Farmers know the importance of occasionally resting their fields. If year after year you plant the same crop in your land, your harvest will become less and less until the land can no longer produce.

In this world we face hardships. There is no getting around it. Abraham's solution is appropriate for us. Get away from the pressure for a while. Forget about the stress. Call on the name of the Lord.

But all this is easier said than done. It is easier to worry, fret, work harder or give up when things get rough.

In every life

There's a pause that is better than onward rush,

Better than hewing or mightiest doing;

`Tis the standing still at Sovereign will.

There's a hush that is better than ardent speech,

Better than sighing or wilderness crying;

`Tis the being still at Sovereign will.

The pause and the hush sing a double song

In unison low and for all time long.

O human soul, God's working plan

Goes on, nor needs the aid of man!

Stand still, and see!

Be still, and know!

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