THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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A few people from the Baptist church were trying to get a man to come. He wouldn't. Finally the pastor went to visit with him. He asked, "Why don't you come with us?" The man said, "I don't have decent clothes to wear." So the pastor took him downtown and bought him a new suit with all the trimmings: shirt, tie, shoes, belt.
Next Sunday the man still didn't come. So the pastor went back to see him. He asked, "Why didn't you come?"
The man said, "Well, after I got all dressed up, I decided I looked good enough to go to the Episcopal church."
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Gen 16:4-13
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
KJV
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Four quick lessons.
Vss 4-5
Why would Hagar now think less of Sarai? Well, she has conceived; but Sarai never had. Two things she may be thinking: one, she is more able than Sarai; and two, the child she will deliver will make her more important than Sarai.
Sarai perceived the problem and apologizes to Abram. She realizes the error, and is sorry that she's placed this wrong on her husband.
Our sins DO affect other people!! Never live in pride!
Vss 6-7
Abram did not really want to deal with this problem. So he left it to Sarai. Sarai dealt "harshly" with Hagar, and Hagar ran away.
Notice verse seven says, "the angel of the LORD found" Hagar. That definite article the means (to me) that this was an appearance of Jesus Christ.
Even when we're in the wilderness, Christ will SHOW UP!
Vss 8-9
The Lord directed Hagar to return to Sarai and be submissive.
Does this mean that God condones slavery! NO!
Does this mean that God condones bigamy? NO!
What it means is that God is showing mercy to Hagar. She was wrong in being arrogant, and now she has run away because she was reproved.
Many people have been hurt in church (the family of God). But to run away from church because our pride has been hurt, is to run TOWARD sin!
Proverbs 21:16 says, "The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead."
Hagar has been running away from the very family which can help her to overcome her arrogance and pride.
She is running toward Egypt, which is a symbol of pride and arrogance.
God is showing her mercy by returning her to Abram and Sarai.
The MERCY of God is shown through His PEOPLE!
Vss 11-12
The knews from God was not all GOOD!
The Lord tells Hagar that her son will be like a wild onager. That's a wild DONKEY!
He will be against everyone that is not his family. And he will always want to live in his OWN family.
This man's descendents have been a "thorn in the side" of Abraham's descendents unto this very day.
Even so, God is in CONTROL. He is trying to teach Hagar a lesson in humility which she might pass on to her son.
But God already KNOWS that this child will grow to be a "menace" (if you will).
Proverbs 16:4 says, "The Lord hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil."
The obstacles in life are meant to draw us CLOSER to God.
Love ya,
Bruce