FINDING HAGAR

A sermon by George R. Pasley

Genesis 21:8-21; Matthew 10:27-31

Our story begins with an account of rivalry and animosity and danger, and it all caused a great deal of distress to Abraham.

You see, Abraham had two sons and he loved them both, but the boys had two mothers and only one of them was married to Abraham. Ishmael, the oldest boy, was the child of Hagar, who had served as a surrogate mother when Sarah became convinced there was no reasonable possibility that God would fulfill an outlandish promise to make her a mother of nations.

But the youngest boy, Isaac, was more than a son of Sarah, he was a son of GOD'S outlandish promise. So when one boy began tormenting the other, and when the two mothers began to draw up sides, well God chose Sarah's side.

That seems unjust of God, and it was. Hagar was defenseless and without resources and being cast out was practically a sentence of death in that place. But God assured Abraham that everything would be alright, so Abraham sent her out one day and it must have been a blazing hot summer day in the dessert because the little skin of water he gave the mother and child didn't last very long.

So it seems like that choice made by God was a really raw deal for Hagar and Ishmael. But there is a point we need to make here: God is God of the universe and we are not. God is sovereign over all creation and over our lives. God is in charge, for better or worse.

But let me make a suggestion. When God chooses one person over another, let us trust that God is not arbitrary but instead purposeful. Let us trust not that “Everything will be alright," but that "Everything will make sense."

We said last week that God was making a point by making Sarah wait so very long, and this week we see that God wanted to make sure we got the point when Isaac was chosen as the child of God's particular blessing and not Ishmael. The point is this: It's up to God, not us.

Now we easily forget that point. Israel, the descendants of Isaac, forgot it many times, calling themselves God's chosen people, as if they had earned the right to be chosen. But more than one prophet reminded them, “God chose you because you were NOT great, just so God could make a point: We are nothing without God, and everything with God.”

But this story moves on and so shall we, though we may come back.

Things got real bad for Hagar and Ishmael, and she figured her child, the only thing she had in all the world, would die real soon.

On Tuesday we'll hold a funeral right here for the child of a mother, and I have seen some of that suffering which I hope never to experience. But here's a lesson for every one who suffers horribly: We are never cast out so far into the desert that God cannot hear our prayers. In fact, the scripture says that God heard the crying of Ishmael, which may have been nothing more than the whimpering of a boy and not have even been prayers at all.

A few days ago I had a conversation about Jesus with a young man who was raised in a fire and brimstone church. He seemed very thoughtful and very knowledgeable and genuine in all he said, but what he said is that he loves Jesus very much but can't abide the church because they insist that people who don't accept Jesus will burn in hell.

Well, you can find things in scripture that will lead to that conclusion but this story suggests something different. It suggests that sometimes the ones who are cast out are be found by God and given a good life. What’s more, there are enough similar stories in the Bible to make you think it happens more than once in awhile.

Trusting in the sovereignty of God means knowing that God finds us when we are unable or unwilling to find God, for are not we all more valuable than two sparrows, which are sold for a penny?

So here's what I told Eric: I don't insist that people "accept Jesus." But I trust Jesus with MY life AND with my every hope in life, and I think that people who don't know Jesus are missing out on something really wonderful.

I can say that because God found an outcaste and her child in the wilderness and gave them life when they were near death.

I can say that because God found me when I was lost and confused, and God found me several times since when I got off course. In every case it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with God, just as Isaac's birth had nothing to do with Sarah and just as Ishmael's rescue from near-death had nothing to do with Hagar's survival skills.

But this is a paradox. It is not to say that it doesn't matter, because it does matter and it matters in away that is far more than quality time with Jesus, hard times without. When God found Hagar, she listened, and she went and drew some water from that well. That response was life.

But it also matters because that younger child, Isaac, he was a child of God's promise and God's promise was that all the nations of the earth would be blessed when that Promise came full term.

The promise full term was Jesus, descendant of Isaac. In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ God was choosing us, and that choice began with Isaac and with Ishmael.

So here's the difference it makes for us: God chose us. That choice had nothing to do with us, and everything to do with God.

So if you are chosen, make a confession. Tell the truth: Who do you trust with your life and every hope in life?

I know what Hagar would say. She would say, "Trust the God of Abraham and Isaac."

So tell me now, who do YOU trust? If it's Jesus, say AMEN.

Now, here's why we need to say it, over and over again: It’s not to save our own life that we confess. Hagar is not the only one crying out there.

There are people hurt and confused and afraid, and there are lots of them, and they are closer than you know. Over and over in this town I hear true stories of people doing unspeakable things because they do not know love, or dignity, or self-respect and I know that the things they are doing are heaping pain on top of pain.

Have you ever seen a wild animal, still alive but caught in a trap? If we're not careful, sooner or later life will catch us all like that, and the confession of someone who trusts in Jesus is often the very thing that opens our eyes and helps us see a well of water.

Our confession says, God chose me.
God found me when I was confused, or afraid, or in trouble.
God found me
and Jesus lifted me up
and held me fast
and now I live, when I thought I'd die.

Now, they might laugh.
They might walk away.
They might say, "You told me that once."
And if they do, don't worry.
Because God is the one in charge

And we can trust in God.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.