The God who Sees
I read Genesis 16 this week thinking about all the stupid things Sarah did. She thought up this crazy idea to give Abram to her servant. She got vicious toward her when Hagar conceived (although Hagar wasn't innocent in this matter either), then she put all the blame on Abram for doing what she told him to do! That's basically how we are. We like to pass the buck.
But this chapter, though beginning with Sarah ends with God's regard for Hagar!
Genesis 16:7–10 (ESV) The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.”
Sometimes we are guilty to cast certain people aside in the story of God's redemption. People like Hagar who aren't of the "chosen race" so to speak. But God sees them. The angel of the Lord FOUND this girl who has been cast aside as a footnote of Abram's disobedience. And this is His first appearance in the scriptures!
We want to look past Hagar and almost feel like this passage is a waste of time. You want to say, "Let's get on with Abram and his story!" But NO! God is not like us (thankfully) and He looks after this woman with the kindest of regard.
God makes promises to her! He blesses her when she felt least deserving. She was cast off but God was going to lift her up and make her son a great people as well. But what must she do? The very difficult thing of submitting to her mistress. This is a tough pill to swallow but it is often how God works. He blesses people where they are at even when their conditions are less than admirable. The blessing was on the house of Abram and God was going to use that house to bless Ishmael. So to get the blessing, she had to be in the house.
That's true for us. God will bless us, but we must have a submissive attitude. A submissive attitude toward each other and especially the house of God: Ephesians 5:21 (NIV) Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Jesus is building His Church and those who honor His house are blessed. Notice the following passages:
Psalm 92:13 (NKJV) Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psalm 133:1–3 (NKJV) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! ...there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.
Psalm 23:6 (ESV) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
But this chapter, though beginning with Sarah ends with God's regard for Hagar!
Genesis 16:7–10 (ESV) The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.”
Sometimes we are guilty to cast certain people aside in the story of God's redemption. People like Hagar who aren't of the "chosen race" so to speak. But God sees them. The angel of the Lord FOUND this girl who has been cast aside as a footnote of Abram's disobedience. And this is His first appearance in the scriptures!
We want to look past Hagar and almost feel like this passage is a waste of time. You want to say, "Let's get on with Abram and his story!" But NO! God is not like us (thankfully) and He looks after this woman with the kindest of regard.
God makes promises to her! He blesses her when she felt least deserving. She was cast off but God was going to lift her up and make her son a great people as well. But what must she do? The very difficult thing of submitting to her mistress. This is a tough pill to swallow but it is often how God works. He blesses people where they are at even when their conditions are less than admirable. The blessing was on the house of Abram and God was going to use that house to bless Ishmael. So to get the blessing, she had to be in the house.
That's true for us. God will bless us, but we must have a submissive attitude. A submissive attitude toward each other and especially the house of God: Ephesians 5:21 (NIV) Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Psalm 92:13 (NKJV) Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psalm 133:1–3 (NKJV) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! ...there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.
Psalm 23:6 (ESV) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
There's a blessing in the HOUSE of God. NO matter who casts you aside, stay rooted where God is and where God's people are. He sees you and He will care for you.
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