What Troubles You?
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What Troubles You?
Genesis 21:17 The Context: In old age Abraham and Sarah were childless. In desperation Sarah gave her maid Hagar to Abraham to have children to fulfill God’s promise that their family would become a great nation. When Hagar had a son by Abraham Sarah became jealous and sent Hagar and her son Ishmael away. Lost and alone in the wilderness Hagar gave up and weeping, left her son to die. The Biblical text seems to say that Hagar did not ask God to rescue her but simply resigned herself to the hopeless situation.
God Asks Us: to Hagar… “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.”
jne: God knew perfectly the awful circumstances Hagar and her son were experiencing. Perhaps she had asked God for help previously and quit when it seemed God was silent. Anyway, in this moment of desperation, Hagar thought there was no hope from any source. Possibly it was audible, perhaps it was simply, and profoundly, from God’s heart and mind to Hagar. God asked Hagar what her trouble was. Then God gave a quick answer to her heart’s longing. Her son would survive and thrive.
How often do I think that God is no where around, and give up without even asking Him to rescue me? God asks me: “What troubles you?” not because he doesn’t know, but because He knows I need to tell Him, ask for His help, and trust Him to answer perfectly. God seriously cares and will follow me into the wilderness to get me to converse with Him. In her previous encounter with God Hagar realized that "God sees" her. In this instance she realizes that "God hears" her. God led her to water and on to a new life with her son.
What Troubles You?
Genesis 21:17 The Context: In old age Abraham and Sarah were childless. In desperation Sarah gave her maid Hagar to Abraham to have children to fulfill God’s promise that their family would become a great nation. When Hagar had a son by Abraham Sarah became jealous and sent Hagar and her son Ishmael away. Lost and alone in the wilderness Hagar gave up and weeping, left her son to die. The Biblical text seems to say that Hagar did not ask God to rescue her but simply resigned herself to the hopeless situation.
God Asks Us: to Hagar… “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.”
jne: God knew perfectly the awful circumstances Hagar and her son were experiencing. Perhaps she had asked God for help previously and quit when it seemed God was silent. Anyway, in this moment of desperation, Hagar thought there was no hope from any source. Possibly it was audible, perhaps it was simply, and profoundly, from God’s heart and mind to Hagar. God asked Hagar what her trouble was. Then God gave a quick answer to her heart’s longing. Her son would survive and thrive.
How often do I think that God is no where around, and give up without even asking Him to rescue me? God asks me: “What troubles you?” not because he doesn’t know, but because He knows I need to tell Him, ask for His help, and trust Him to answer perfectly. God seriously cares and will follow me into the wilderness to get me to converse with Him. In her previous encounter with God Hagar realized that "God sees" her. In this instance she realizes that "God hears" her. God led her to water and on to a new life with her son.