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.
. Our text says that she "wandered aimlessly in the wilderness". She was stunned that she had been sent away and looked around and siad this is not what I expected.
. God said that He would care for me and my son even before he was born. He told Abraham that He would take care of us and look at us, we are wandering around in this desert with a little food and just what water will fit into this container.
. It seems to me that God has forgotten me and my son.
.Hagar began to doubt what God had told her. She began to doubt the promises of God.
. We see Hagar and say what's wrong with her, God has made her a promise.
. We are not much different from Hagar folks. We al go through times of doubt don't we?
. Things are not going the way we want them to, life starts to get a little rough and the storms of life that will always come are there and we cry out where are you Lord and we begin to doubt God.
. We are much like the Disciples who are in the boat with Jesus in Mark 4:35-40
35As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”
36So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).
37But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
39When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!”Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm
40Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
. They began to doubt that Jesus would care for them.
. Don't you even care that we are going to drown Lord.
.I'm sure that Hagar was thinking the same thing. Don't you even care God? You promised to take care of me and look at me now.
. Many Christians find themselves in the same boat as the disciples and they begin to doubt what God has promised them.
. Hagar them moved from doubt to:
. Despair
. Look back at the story with me. verses 15-16
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.
. Her doubt of God moved her into despair.
. She gave up. when the water was gone, she place Ishmael in the shade and walked away. Refusing to watch as he died from dehydration.
. In her despair, she had given up on God.
. Her doubt and despair had driven her to give up. To quit trying.
. She had given up on God. She no longer believed that God was with her. She no longer believed the promises that God had given to her.
. Christian, our doubts will always lead to despair.
. When the storms of life come and were in the middle of that storm and we begin to doubt that God can carry us through, we must be careful or our doubts will lead us into despair.
. We must guard ourselves so that we will not give up on God.
. Hagar had given up. Threw up her hands and said I give. I don't believe that God will keep his promise to me.
. I have met many people who have given up on God.
. God had told her that He would watch out for her. He didn't tell that her life would be wine and roses. As a matter of fact, He told her just the opposite.
. Back when she ran away, god told her this in Genesis 16:12
12This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.”
. You will have difficulties in your life Hagar, your son will be a wild man. He will cause you much grief, but I will always be with you.
God tells us the same thing. Life will not always be a bed of roses. It may not seem fair. (I'm sure Hagar didnt think what was happening to her was fair). Through it all though, I will be with you.
. Don't let despair paralyze you. In her despair, Hagar became paralyzed and gave up.
. Christian, maybe you are experiencing things in life that bring you to despair. God says don't give up, I have made you promises and I will always be with you.
. You see, we need not despair because we have a:
. Destiny
. God brought Hagar out of her despair by reminding her of his promise to take care of them.
Look at verses 17-18 again:
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.”
. God told Hagar that you and your son have a destiny. I will make a great nation from him and his descendants.
. Christian, here me well this morning, you have a destiny.
. First and foremost, you have a destiny of eternal life in the presence of God himself, Jesus Chris.
. That is a promise that we have been given. God will keep that promise. Rest in that.
. You have a destiny laid out for you here on earth.
.Ishmael went on to fulfill his destiny. It is believed that Ishmaels descendants now inhabit Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
. You have two destinies. The first one is your eternity with God. The second is what you do with your life here on Earth.
. Ephesians 2:8-10 tells Christians what their destiny here on Earth is to be.
8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
. God has had plans for you for a long time. You have a destiny and it is more than just survive and believe in Him.
. The destiny of All Christians is to do what God calls them to do. Paul calls them "good works"
. Our destiny is to do what God has called us to do and be.
. Don't let doubts and despair keep you from being all that God has called and wants you to be.
. As Darth Vader told Luke, this is your destiny.
. Are you fulfilling your destiny this morning?
Invitation
*** To my Christian brothers and sisters, thank you for taking the time to read this sermon. I ask that you take another second and score this for me. I am always open to feedback so that I can continue to grow in the proclamation of God’s word.
May God bless you as you continue to strive to walk worthy of His calling.
Sources: The Holy Bible, NLT
