Text: Genesis 21:14-21KJV
“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 Beer–sheba. And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: 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. 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. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. 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. And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.”
Introduction
A. HAGAR: The Mother of the Arab Nations.
1. Well known that Abraham is the father of Israel
2. He is also the father of the Arab nations (Gen 16)
3. Sarah is the mother of Israel
4. Hagar is the mother of the Arab nations
B. THE BIRTH OF ISHMAEL (Gen 16)
1. God's original promise to Abraham (Gen. 5:4-6)
2. Sarah's plan: Hagar to provide Abraham a son.
C. ISAAC'S BIRTH AND HAGAR'S HEARTACHE (Gen. 21)
1. Hagar and Ishmael cast out into the desert.
2. Hagar's cry and God's quest : What aileth thee, Hagar?
Body
A. GOD'S QUESTION WHEN A MOTHER WAS GRIEVING FOR HER CHILD.
1. Hagar though her child would die.
2. Mothers have shed many tears over their children .
a. In times of sickness
b. When children have been wayward
c. When they have been in danger
3. Mothers have:
a. Hidden their tears when harsh words were spoken
b. Prayed through their tears when wounded and broken
c. Waited long to years by their children neglected
d. Cried to the God whom their children rejected.
4. But in that hour God cared about Hagar's tears.
5. He called upon Hagar to unburden her heart.
B. GOD'S QUESTION TO A MOTHER WHO HAD BEEN WRONGED BY OTHERS.
1. She had been wronged by man.
2. She had been wronged by a man of God.
a. She had seen him at prayer
b. She had admired his courage and faith.
3. She had known him in his greatest weakness.
4. Sarah had taken part in this wrong.
5. We are not always what we should be.
6. Have you been wounded by a professing Christian?
C. GOD'S QUESTION TO A MOTHER WHO WAS TO LEARN OF HIS FAITHFULNESS.
1. She had started this journey with bread and water.
2. Now her bread was eaten and her water gone.
3. What God did not advise Hagar to do:
a. Grieve over her problems
b. Hold grudges and nurse her wounds.
4. Instead He opened her eyes to His provision
a. There was water within reach
b. God has provided for all of our needs.
CONCLUSION
A. HAGAR'S RESPONSE: SHE FILLED THE BOTTLE AND GAVE WATER TO ISHMAEL
1. Water to sustain life was available to this troubled mother.
2. God has provided living water to give eternal life.
3. This living water is ours through faith in Christ.
B. WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE BLESSING OF ETERNAL LIFE PROVIDED TO YOU?
1. Will you share the living water?
2. Will you tell others of Christ and His love?
