God And Hagar

When we speak of single mothers, we are not referring to the marital status a child’s mother. Nor am I talking about those women who have decided for the child that the father is not necessary. We are not discussing those mothers that believe that Fatherhood is a nonessential role in child rearing. The single mothers whom we are speaking about understand the role fathers, however, the father is not fulfilling this role. They realize they need help, they want help, they desire help but there is no help around.

When we speak of single mothers, we are speaking about those mothers who rear their children single-handedly. They are responsibile for their children physical, educational and emotional needs, exclusively. They have to bear the burden of the joys of raising children alone. Perhaps they receive assistance from somewhere, but the whole responsibility of the child’s welfare falls on them and them alone. They train their children in the way without a partner in the process, without a co-trainer, without a mate who is willing to shoulder the operation of preparation with them. They are Single Mothers.

Therefore, based on this definition of single motherhood, you can be married and still be a single mother. (I wish I had a witness right here.) Some married mothers know what I am describing. Every morsel of bread the child eats, they prepare. Every stitch of clothing the child wears, they bought. They tuck the child in at every night and wake them up every morning. They teaching them the Lord’s Prayer and their ABC’s. They are the homework checkers and the carpool drivers. They coach the little league baseball team and bake brownies for PTA’s. Everything the child needs, this mother provides single-handedly. Daddy may be sitting right there, but he does not lift a finger to help. Perhaps I need to put a note here: THIS IS A MOTHER’S DAY SERMON AND NOT A FATHER BASHING DAY SERMON.

Perhaps the children are not his, he only wanted a wife. Perhaps, they have worked out a deal that she nurture her children alone. Perhaps she was a bit overbearing at the beginning and would not allow the father to participate in the early, formative years of the child. Now, both of them are dissatisfied with the arrangement but don’t know how to rectify the situation. Regardless of the whys the fact remains, she finds herself as a single mother.

The magnificent thing about the Bible is that it is not reluctant to describe the most honored heroes and heroines in a positive and negative light. Biblical record allows us to see the good, the bad and the ugly of many of the heroes of faith. Moses, the deliverer of the children of Israel, the servant of God, the writer of the first five books of the Bible is pictured as a murderer and afraid to accept the call of God. David, a man after God’s own heart, established Jerusalem as the city of God, Shepherd-King of Israel and the writer of the 23rd numbered Psalm, is vividly described as an adulterer and a murderer. Even the apostle Peter does not escape intense scrutiny of the God’s Word. Peter is portrayed as hot-tempered, big-mouthed, and short-sighted, however, the Bible is careful to show God using Peter on the Day of Pentecost, healing a cripple man and opening the Church’s doors to the Gentiles.

The Bible means what it says in Romans 3:10 (KJV) "there is none righteous, no, not one." And in Romans 3:23 (KJV), "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Genesis 21 describes a horrible event, an ugly event in the life of Abraham and Sarah. The Bible does not allow them to pass off the pages of holy writ without incident, but plainly narrates their behavior. Some will try to justify their behavior, put all the blame on the single mother. Making the situation her fault. She must have done something or her child did something that caused them to treat her this way. Maybe if she were a little more humble, a little more submissive, a little more respectful then this situation would have never occurred. However, I have learned in life that you cannot do enough to please jealous, mean, despiteful people. When she smiled, Sarah felt like she was laughing at her. Abraham was no better, he treated her like a thing to be used rather than a person to be respected, a means to an end. Genesis 16:3 says Abraham took her to be his wife, so we are talking about a husband-second wife relationship. Because of this, Abraham’s behavior is unjustifiable. But, before we condemn Abraham and vote to take his name off the roll of faith, let us be mindful that works does not save us lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:9 KJV), but we are saved by grace. Thank God for grace. We all deserve to have our names removed from heaven’s roll, but thank God for grace. God’s grace is divine favor shown toward us that gives us what do not deserve. We deserve to be cut off, but God does not look around the room and wait for a unanimous decision to whether or not to bless us. Always someone will vote against us. But God takes it upon God-self to distribute Grace. I know what John Newton was feeling that night he penned the words, "Amazing Grace". We all need God’s Grace. Grace to wake us up, Grace to keep us through the day, Grace to lead us from earth to glory. Thank God for Grace. Abraham and Sarah were wrong in the text but they are listed among the faithful because of God’s Grace.