And the Lord said, "I will certainly return and Sarah, thy wife, shall have a son." Now Sarah was just inside the tent, and when she heard the words, she laughed within herself. And the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I of a surety have a child?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, and Sarah shall have a son." And Sarah was ashamed that she had doubted God's promise, and she denied, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. But the Lord said, "Nay, but thou didst laugh." XXXIII. In a Thirsty Land This is a nice story for children, because it tells us that God listens when children pray, and sympathizes with all that happens to children. The boy you see in the picture is almost dying for want of water. Perhaps none of you children know how dreadful it is to be really very thirsty, and have nothing to drink, however thirsty you may be. Hagar, the mother of the boy, is very sad. She knows that the bottle is empty, and she cannot see any sign of a well, or of a spring of water, in the great sandy desert which stretches in every direction as far as the eye can see. Ishmael is her one child, and God has allowed them to be sent out into the wilderness, with only a bottle of water and as much bread as they can carry; for Hagar had been turned out of her home, and had been obliged to take that long and dangerous journey, because of the unkindness of her mistress Sarah. But God was watching over her and Ishmael. He would not allow anything to really hurt them, and in His great pity, He sent to save them when all other help had failed. By and by there was not one drop of water left in the bottle, and Ishmael had no strength to walk any further. Hagar knew that all hope was over, now that Ishmael could not walk another step! So she laid him down under a little shrub that grew there, and went some little distance off, for she said in her grief, "I cannot bear to see him die." So she sat down in her misery and cried bitterly. But God heard the voice of the lad, and He sent His angel to call to Hagar from heaven. "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the lad, where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him in thine hand; for I will make of him a great nation." Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink, and he revived, and presently got quite well. And this is the lesson which we may learn from Ishmael's cry, children. God knows our difficulties; God hears us when we speak to Him; God is nearer than we think; God is more loving than the most loving of earthly friends. He tells us to call upon Him in trouble. Let us think of Ishmael dying for want of water, and crying to God in his distress, and let us do the same in our troubles! No matter how small they may seem, God says He cares.