Introduction

Welcome, beloved, to this sacred gathering where we come together in the spirit of unity, love, and a shared longing to understand God's Word. We gather not just as a congregation, but as a family, bound together by our shared faith in Christ, our shared hope in His promises, and our shared love for His Word. We are here to open our hearts and minds to the timeless wisdom of the scriptures and to seek comfort, guidance, and inspiration from its divine message.

Today, we turn our attention to a passage from Genesis, a passage that speaks of promises, detours, and waiting. It is a passage that tells a story, not just of individuals, but of humanity and God's unending grace.

Before we delve into the passage, let us remember the words of the great Christian theologian, J.I. Packer who once said, "Wait on the Lord" is a constant refrain in the Psalms, and it is a necessary word, for God often keeps us waiting. He is not in such a hurry as we are, and it is not his way to give more light on the future than we need for action in the present, or to guide us more than one step at a time. When in doubt, do nothing, but continue to wait on God. When action is needed, light will come."

Now let us read from Genesis 16:1-15: "Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, 'The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.' Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, 'You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.' 'Your slave is in your hands,' Abram said. 'Do with her whatever you think best.' Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, 'Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?' 'I'm running away from my mistress Sarai,' she answered. Then the angel of the Lord told her, 'Go back to your mistress and submit to her.' The angel added, 'I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.' The angel of the Lord also said to her: 'You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.' She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me,' for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me.' That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne."

Let us bow our heads in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word that is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we reflect on this passage today, may Your Spirit guide us into all truth, bring clarity to our minds, and stir up faith in our hearts. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Holding onto God's Promises

In the story of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar, we see a clear example of how difficult it can be to hold onto God's promises. God had promised Abram that he would be the father of many nations, but as the years passed and Sarai remained barren, they began to doubt. They took matters into their own hands, deciding to use Hagar, Sarai's slave, as a surrogate. This decision led to strife and conflict, and ultimately, Hagar fled from Sarai's harsh treatment.

This story serves as a reminder of the importance of patience and trust in God's timing. God's promises are sure, but they may not always unfold in the way or at the time that we expect. Abram and Sarai tried to force God's promise into their own timeline, and as a result, they created a situation of pain and conflict. When we try to manipulate circumstances to fit our own desires, we often end up causing more harm than good.

We also see the importance of humility in our relationship with God. Abram and Sarai's decision to use Hagar as a surrogate was not just a lack of patience, but also a display of arrogance. They assumed that they knew better than God, that they could take control of the situation and bring about God's promise on their own terms. This arrogance led to suffering for Hagar, and ultimately, for Abram and Sarai as well.

In contrast, we see in Hagar a model of humility and faith. Despite her difficult circumstances, she trusted in God's promise to her. When the angel of the Lord found her in the desert, she was given a promise of her own: that she would bear a son, and that her descendants would be too numerous to count. Despite her fear and uncertainty, Hagar chose to trust in this promise, returning to Sarai and bearing a son, Ishmael.

Finally, the story of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar teaches us about the grace of God. Despite their mistakes and failures, God did not abandon Abram and Sarai. He continued to fulfill His promise to them, eventually giving them a son, Isaac. And despite her status as a slave and a foreigner, God did not overlook Hagar. He saw her in her distress, He heard her cries, and He made a promise to her as well.

Handling Life's Detours

As we reflect on the narrative of Sarai, Abram, and Hagar, we find ourselves in the midst of life's detours ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO