Gen. 21:14-19
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, what aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
19 And 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.
We are here tonight because someone has heard the voice of a battered woman. The word battered refers to one who is beaten, shattered and demolished by successive blows. When a mixture is battered, it is beaten enough to pour. A battered woman is a woman beaten until her spirit is poured out. She is beaten until her joy is poured out. She is beaten until her hope is drained. She is a woman crush until her will is crippled and her life is gone. She is no stranger to us. She cries out in all forms of music and literature. The church hears her cry in gospel music but mutes her voice. She cries about her situation at home but is not allowed to preach about her liberator in our churches. They come to church covered with wide hats and facial mascara. They lift their hands with troubled hearts and confused minds. The church must un-mute their voices. We must un-tie their praise. God never meant for the daughters of Eve to live in pain and incarceration. The essence of Jesus’ ministry is liberation and release. The donkey could not carry the Master if he remained tied up. Lazarus could not have walked if he was not liberated from his grave clothes. The adulterous woman could not go in peace if she had been stoned to death. Thank God tonight; He is birthing a generation of Esthers for such a time as this. We must be careful not to forget that battered women are also our mothers, wives, grandmothers, Sunday school teachers, ministers, choir members; including the elite folk among us. One visit to the hospital and nursing homes will remind us that the elderly are victims of battered lives. They live with the abuse of their husband and their children. The daughters of Eve are hurting throughout the land. Pain is a universal language. There is pain in every pew. There is sorrow in every shack. There is chaos in every Condo. There are tears in every town. In every Community, there is confusion. It’s interesting that the name “EVE” means mother of all living. Yet many of EVE’s daughters are stressed out and dying from the perplexities of life. Today, Eve’s daughters are both: money makers and cares-takers. They take care of Adam’s children while he stands hopelessly on the street corners. I submit to you tonight, that the champion of all causes came through the seed of the woman. In the words of our message tonight, we find Hagar a scorn woman. Hagar; Abraham’s other woman. Hagar, Abraham baby’s momma. Hagar, a woman stranded and abandoned by her lover. Hagar, was a nobody on the street in the middle of somewhere with no one to turn to. Hagar; a woman battered and bruised by a confused mind. Hagar was put out on the street with a few diapers and a bottle. Hagar, she loss her job and her future, all because she tried to light a fire in another woman’s marriage. Hagar was cut short because of a short cut. Here she is wearied, worn and sad. Her life was a mess but her name was a blessing. Hagar meant, (EL Roi) God who sees. Her baby’s name Ishmael meant God who hears.
I. GOD IS ATTENTIVE TO THE VOICE OF THE HURTING.
II. NO ONE IS INSIGNIFICANT TO GOD.
III. GOD WILL MEET YOU WHERE YOU END UP.
IV. GOD SPOKE UP WHEN THE WATER BOTTLE WAS SPENT UP.
V. GOD HEARD THE VOICE OF THE WOUNDED TEENAGER.
VI. THE SHRUBS CANNOT HIDE THE DYING.
VII. GOD HEARS YOU WHEN NOBODY ELSE DOES.
VIII. THERE’S A WELL IN YOUR WILDERNESS.
IX. WE WERE SAVED BY A BATTERED SAVIOUR.
Conclusion: God heard Hagar and her child where they were. I submit to you tonight, that He will hear you also. Be strong in the Lord my sister. It may be that like Our Lord, we too; should pray for all batterers. "Father Forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Pastor Rodney L. Johnson Sr.,
Bethlehem and Bell Baptist Church
May God Keep You in His love
