PASTOR
A FORGOTTEN
MOTHER
GEN 16:7-15 7 .) The angel of the LORD found Hagar beside a desert spring along the road to Shur . 8 .) The angel said to her , “ Hagar , Sarai ’ s servant , where have you come from , and where are you going ?” “ I am running away from my mistress ,” she replied . 9 .) Then the angel of the LORD said , “ Return to your mistress and submit to her authority .” 10 .) The angel added , “ I will give you more descendants than you can count .” 11 And the angel also said , “ You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son . You are to name him Ishmael , for the LORD has heard about your misery . 12 .) This son of yours will be a wild one — free and untamed as a wild donkey ! He will be against everyone , and everyone will be against him . Yes , he will live at odds with the rest of his brothers .” 13 .) Therafter , Hagar referred to the LORD , who had spoken to her , as “ the God who sees me ,” for she said , “ I have seen the One who sees me !” 14 .) Later that well was named Beer-lahairoi , and it can still be found between Kadesh and Bered . 15 .) So Hagar gave Abram a son , and Abram named him Ishmael .
First I would like to say Happy Mother ’ s Day to all of you wonderful ladies who are mothers . This is your special time where we celebrate you ! But in reality , you are celebrated everyday ! Last year we had a young minister to speak at our church on Mother ’ s Day , and she spoke on the above passage of Scripture . This was a powerful message and I want to share some key points of that message with you . It takes place after Sarah has given her handmaid , Hagar , over to her husband Abram ( who we know becomes Abraham ). But after Hagar discovers that she had become Pregnant , she had contempt for Sarah . This caused Sarah to treat her harshly . Well now Hagar begins to go through a state of depression , and she goes out to a desert place where something amazingly happens to her .
7 .) The angel of the LORD found Hagar beside a desert spring along the road to Shur .
8 .) The angel said to her , “ Hagar , Sarai ’ s servant , where have you come from , and where are you going ?” “ I am running away from my mistress ,” she replied .
9 .) Then the angel of the LORD said ,“ Return to your mistressand submit to her authority .”
We see in verse 7 , that the angel of the Lord finds her “ beside a desert spring ”. How many mothers find themselves in a desert place because of life ’ s challenges ? It seems at times that you are all alone and there ’ s no one who understands what you are going through . Well ladies God knows , and he cares for you ! Then in verse 8 , a very profound question is asked , “ Where have you come from and where are you going ?” Sometimes ladies there are times when you have contemplated this same question , right ? Your problems can seem so large that you see no way out ! But know this God is a god that cares for us all ! Let ’ s take a moment to look at Hagar . Hagar is the first single parent mentioned in the Scriptures ! And she is the first non Jewish person that God has spoken to and gives his blessings to . I know that the Jewish race is in its infancy stage , but I think you follow me with this . Now back to the message .
The end of verse 8 Hagar states that she was running away from her mistress , Sarah . In verse 8 the angel of the Lord tells her to return back to Sarah . It is God that tells us to stop running from our issues and to face them ! The thing is when we face them in obedience to God , we don ’ t face them alone ! He is with us to lead us and guide us in the way we should go !
10 .) The angel added , “ I will give you more descendants than you can count .”
11 .) And the angel also said , “ You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son . You are to name him Ishmael , for the LORD has heard about your misery .
12 .) This son of yours will be a wild one — free and untamed as a wild donkey ! He will be against everyone , and everyone will be against him . Yes , he will live at odds with the rest of his brothers .”
Verse 10 says that “ the angel added .” He did not just send her back , but the angel sends her back with blessings . When God sends you back to face your issues , you do not go empty handed , there are blessings following you ! In verse 11 , the angel tells her what to name her child , Ishmael , for the Lord has heard about your misery ! God hears your cry ladies , he counts your tears , and you are NOT alone ! All of your struggles to make ends meet , God knows them . But many of you just flat out give up ! Trust in the Lord ! Verse 12 , we actually see why there is trouble today in the Middle East . The descendants of Ishmael are the Arabs ; they are fighting against the Jews . This is a battle that will not end until Jesus returns ! 13 Thereafter , Hagar referred to the LORD , who had spoken to her , as “ the God who sees me ,” for she said , “ I have seen the One who sees me !” 14 Later that well was named Beer-lahairoi , and it can still be found between Kadesh and Bered . 15 So Hagar gave Abram a son , and Abram named him Ishmael . Now Hagar begins to recognize the Lord God by giving him a special name , “ EL ROI , the God who sees me ”, when Hagar thought that she was all alone . God reassured her that He was there . And that he cared . In verse 14 , we see that the place where Hagar was met by the Lord as been named . And then at the appointed time Hagar became a Mother .
A mother with a promise from God ! Many women find themselves in desert places , but know that you don ’ t have to remain there . God desires to bless your lives , will you allow him to ? Remember , you are not forgotten , God knows your name . I pray that this blesses someone out there , who maybe in a desert place , EL Roi sees you , for He is the God who sees you !
Pastor Leon Bing A Forgotten Mother Jacksonville , Florida May 2015
PASTOR
LEON R
BING
PROGRAM SUCCESS MAGAZINE PAGE : 29 | MAY 2015