From Doubt To Despair To Destiny

From Despair To Destiny

Genesis 21:8-21 (NLT)

(for video and audio of this sermon www.thecreekmonroe.com)

Intro: Has anyone seen the new Star Wars movie? It is called "The Force Awakens". I dont know who it was supposed to awaken because it put me to sleep. It seems to be a hit though with the true Star Wars junkies. As I was reading and preparing for this sermon, God brought to mind one of the original episodes and a particular scene and dialog between Luke Skywalker (what an original name for the character) and Darth Vader.

. The most memorable line that we remember from this episode is when Darth Vader looks at Luke and says "Luke, I am your father" acknowledging what everybody that was watching the movie had already figured out. There is also another line that I want to remind you of this morning.

. You see, Darth Vader had been trying to bring Luke over to the dark side and he told him that the Emperor (evil person) had foreseen his switch to the dark side and then he said this.

. "Luke, this is your destiny"

. Somehow, Luke resisted that destiny and brought about the downfall of the evil emperor.

. We all have a destiny in Life. Christians especially. God has a destiny, a plan for all of us.

. We are back in Genesis this morning with a rather unusual story. Genesis 21:8-21

. It is the story of the expulsion of Hagar, the Egyptian slave woman who had given birth to Abrahams first son Ishmael.

. Remember that Sari, now known as Sarah, thought that she was too old to have children so she had Abraham impregnate her slave girl Hagar and that brought forth Abrahams son Ishmael.

. Well guess what, God worked in spite of Abraham and Sarah and Sarah became pregnant and she gave birth to a son, and Abraham named him Isaac. Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 years old when he was born.

. Let's look at the story:

8When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion.

9But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac.

10So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”

11This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son.

12But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.

13But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”

14So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush.

16Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.

17But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.

18Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”

19Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.

20And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer,

21and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.

. In this short story, we see three things.

. The first thing we see here is :

Doubt

. Hagar doubted what God had told her.

. Back in chapter 16 here in Genesis, Sarah and Hagar had a spat and Hagar ran away from home basically. She was out in the wilderness and the angel of the Lord appeared to her and told her to return to her mistress (Sarah).

. He told her that God would watch over her and her son. Yes there would be some hard times but God would protect and watch over them.

. She had this promise from God.

. Hagar and Sarah never got along and Sarah had Abraham basically banish Hagar and Ishmael form their presence.

. Abraham was very upset but God told him to do as Sarah wanted and that He would take care of Hagar and Ishmael. So the next morning, Abraham got up early and gave them some food and water and sent them on their way. Im sure that Abraham told them that God would take care of them and watch out for them.