Program Success Mother's Day 2015 - Page 29

A FORGOTTEN MOTHER GEN 16:7-15 7.) The angel of the LORD found Hagar beside a desert spring along the road to Shur. 8.) The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress,” she replied. 9.) Then the angel of the LORD said, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.” 10.) The angel added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.” 11 And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard about your misery. 12.) This son of yours will be a wild one — free and untamed as a wild donkey! He will be against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live at odds with the rest of his brothers.” 13.) Therafter, Hagar referred to the LORD, who had spoken to her, as “the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have seen the One who sees me!” 14.) Later that well was named Beer-lahairoi, and it can still be found between Kadesh and Bered. 15.) So Hagar gave Abram a son, and Abram named him Ishmael. First I would like to say Happy Mother’s Day to all of you wonderful ladies who are mothers. This is your special time where we celebrate you! But in reality, you are celebrated everyday! Last year we had a young minister to speak at our church on Mother’s Day, and she spoke on the above passage of Scripture.This was a powerful message and I want to share some key points of that message with you. It takes place after Sarah has given her handmaid, Hagar, over to her husband Abram (who we know becomes Abraham). But after Hagar discovers that she had become Pregnant, she had contempt for Sarah. This caused Sarah to treat her harshly.Well now Hagar begins to go through a state of depression, and she goes out to a desert place where something amazingly happens to her. 7.) The angel of the LORD found Hagar beside a desert spring along the road to Shur. 8.) The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress,” she replied. 9.) Then the angel of the LORD said,“Return to your mistressand submit to her authority.” We see in verse 7, that the angel of the Lord finds her “beside a desert spring”. How many mothers find themselves in a desert place because of life’s challenges? It seems at times that you are all alone and there’s no one who understands what you are going through. Well ladies God knows, and he cares for you! Then in verse 8, a very profound question is asked, “Where have you come from and where are you going?” Sometimes ladies there are times when you have contemplated this same question, right? Your problems can seem so large that you see no way out! But know this God is a god that cares for us all! Let’s take a moment to look at Hagar. Hagar is the first single parent mentioned in the Scriptures! And she is the first non Jewish person that God has spoken to and gives his blessings to. I know that the Jewish race is in its infancy stage, but I think you follow me with this. Now back to the message. The end of verse 8 Hagar states that she was running away from her mistress, Sarah. In verse 8 the angel of the Lord tells her to return back to Sarah. It is God that tells us to stop running from our issues and to face them! The thing is when we face them in obedience to God, we don’t face them alone! He is with us to lead us and guide us in the way we should go! trouble today in the Middle East. The descendants of Ishmael are the Arabs; they are fighting against the Jews. This is a battle that will not end until Jesus returns! 13 Thereafter, Hagar referred to the LORD, who had spoken to her, as “the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have seen the One who sees me!” 14 Later that well was named Beer-lahairoi, and it can still be found between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar gave Abram a son, and Abram named him Ishmael. Now Hagar begins to recognize the Lord God by giving him a special name, “EL ROI, the God who sees me”, when Hagar thought that she was all alone. God reassured her that He was there. And that he cared. In verse 14, we see that the place where Hagar was met by the Lord as been named. And then at the appointed time Hagar became a Mother. A mother with a promise from God! Many women find themselves in desert places, but know that you don’t have to remain there. God desires to bless your lives, will you allow him to? Remember, you are not forgotten, God knows your name. I pray that this blesses someone out there, who maybe in a desert place, EL Roi sees you, for He is the God who sees you! 10.) The angel added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.” 11.) And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard about your misery. 12.) This son of yours will be a wild one — free and untamed as a wild donkey! He will be against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live at odds with the rest of his brothers.” Verse 10 says that “the angel added.” He did not just send her back, but the angel sends her back with blessings. When God sends you back to f