More than a joke...

The Source of Eternal Refreshment

(Genesis 21:8-21, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, January 11, 2015)

[8] And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. [9] But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. [10] So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” [11] And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. [12] But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. [13] And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” [14] So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.2000 years before the birth of Jesus, the Lord was working through His servant Abraham. God made it clear to Abraham that His promise to bless all the people groups of the earth would come through Abraham's miracle son, Isaac, the child of his elderly wife, Sarah. “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

Did this mean that God did not have any plan for Ishmael and his mother Hagar? No, the Lord would make a nation of this son who would also be known as the offspring of Abraham. Yet for a time the two boys would be separate, one who would be the father of the Jews through his son Jacob, and the other who would be the father of several tribal peoples. The plan of God had not changed. The promised “Seed of the woman” would come from one chosen Man. Hope for everyone else, including the descendants of Ishmael, would be found not in mocking the Chosen One, but in union with Him. One day, Jews and Gentiles would dwell together again in one tent.

[15] When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. [16] Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. [17] And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. [18] Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” [19] Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. [20] And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. [21] He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

The Lord spoke to Hagar. God would have a tender regard for her and her son. Yet it would be many centuries before the descendants of Ishmael would find their way into the tent of the Almighty. One day, the descendants of Ishmael would find living water through Jesus.

Put the Word to Work: The Lord has a saving plan for all His elect through Jesus Christ. That plan begins for any people group when they find the pathway to life in the Jewish Messiah. Ethnic pride that resists the only way to eternal life is not commendable; it is madness. Mocking and persecuting the Lord of glory and His church is not the road that leads to life. Jesus is.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 126:6 – He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 17:22-23 – Jesus again foretells death, resurrection