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Pastor's Blog

God Showing Up

By May 9, 2022No Comments
As I was preparing to share this writing with you, I pictured initially parents as they read my words. Then, as I began to look a little deeper at what I was sharing, I realized that this is for everyone. Like so many truths in God’s Word, they apply to a variety of people in various situations.
At first, I pictured parents because the account from Genesis I was studying concerns a mother and her child. In Genesis, we discover that God has promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations but has a barren wife. At his wife’s suggestion, he tries to hurry along with God’s plan by sleeping with her maidservant, Hagar. Sidebar, in the Scriptures, we find prescriptive actions and descriptive actions. There are prescriptive actions we are to follow. This is not one of them. What Abraham did was sinful, disobedient, and abusive to Hagar.
Now, back to Hagar. She becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, Ishmael. Due to Jealousy, Sarah, Abraham’s wife, wants Hagar punished for her part in having this child. Remember, it was Sarah’s idea in the first place. This results in Abraham turning a blind eye to Sarah’s harsh treatment of Hagar.
Fast forward a bit. As God had promised, Sarah gave birth to a son, Isaac. Unfortunately, this does not make the situation between Sarah and Hagar any better. It actually gets worse. This leads to Abraham sending Hagar and Ishmael away.
Eventually, Hagar and Ishmael find themselves in a dire situation. We read in Genesis 21:15-16, “When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, ‘Let me not look on the death of the child.’ And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept.” I believe any parent, and any person for that matter, knows what it’s like to feel despair, not knowing what to do. You feel alone, helpless, and hopeless. This was where Hagar was sitting.
Then, we read, “And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, ‘What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.’ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink” (Genesis 21:17-19). Hagar discovers she’s not alone. The situation was not hopeless because God, the Helper, was present and working.
There is so much that could be addressed from this account. However, I want to draw our attention to a few insights. First, on this side of paradise, life is not fair. Hagar didn’t deserve the way she was treated. She should have been able to expect more from Sarah and Abraham. However, we don’t always get what we deserve.
Second, in all of life, specifically in this parenting situation, we discover that life isn’t easy. Hagar wanted what was best for her son. She desired to protect him. But, unfortunately, there is only so much we can do. We are limited. This is painful when others and situations seek to harm our children. This is even more painful when our children make choices that hurt themselves. Hagar felt the despair many a parent, and generally speaking, many of us have felt.
Lastly, God is always present and working. We might not understand why He allows certain things and chooses to intervene when He does. We know we live in a fallen world that is not easy or fair. We know that we are often humbled by our limitations. The good news is God is present and working in this life and preparing us for eternity where life is not harsh, it is fair, and we will be without limit to experience the fullness of God’s joy and provisions.
So, what do we learn from Hagar’s experience to help us today? First, always look to the Lord. If you haven’t received Christ as Savior, start there in your relationship with Him. Then, acknowledge He is present and working. And know that your future is secure in Him. For us parents, we need to trust that God is more concerned and loves our children more deeply than we ever could. In truth, none of us are ever really alone, nor in despair (utter loss of hope), because God is with us and always at work (Matthew 28:20). Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!