Genesis 21:19a Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.
I am incredibly partial to the NLT translation of Gen 21:20, “And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness.” I found this translation sometime during my hikers’ first trek on the Appalachian Trail, AT for short. They made it from Georgia to New Jersey that first trip, 1325 miles on foot. And my oldest child did some growing up as he hiked through the wilderness.
Genesis 21:19b So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
When they hiked the AT a second time five years later, this time successfully making it from Georgia to Maine, almost 2200 miles on foot, I thought of that verse often. My oldest grew and matured even more on this hike through the wilderness, and the NLT translation of Gen 21:20 brought me a measure of peace and comfort the entire time they hiked. It reminded me that God was with them every single day.
Genesis 21:20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer.
Precious Savior, Thank You for Gen 21:20, which brought me so much comfort as my guys hiked the AT. Thank You that You can reach us as we wander in life’s wildernesses, that You are with us in what can be dark and trying times. Help us draw closer to you, especially as we traverse difficult terrain in life. Amen.
Genesis 21:21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.
Have a blessed day.