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Call to worship: Isaiah 53:11-54:5
Text: Genesis 16:1-16
Summary:
God has said know for certain. Grace guarantees glory. God will do what He has promised. But Sarai has her own bout with doubt. Her flesh outdoes her faith. If God will not give her a child, she will take matters into her own hands. The promise can be achieved by human labors. In the process, she lays aside her relationship with God and Abram by giving her Egyptian servant, Hagar, to Abram as his wife and mistress. Hagar conceives, but conception leads to a contempt of Sarai which the matriarch bitterly resents. Abram's Adamic side looms large in Sarai's fleshly slide. The pregnant Hagar flees from Sarai's wrath to a well in the wilderness. Remarkably, and contrary to His people, it appears the Lord Himself pursues and finds her at that place. He speaks promised provision to the outcast, exhorting her to return to the family of faith, and Hagar exercises a faith that puts Sarai's flesh to shame. She exalts the God of Abram as the Living One Who sees and looks after her. He's the Fountain of her life, though her offspring, Ishmael, will prove to be a persecutor of the child of promise. Ministry by the flesh may produce children, but only of the flesh. Therefore, it is good for faith to go to the Well of Him Who Sees, even if just to see how far God will go in seeing His promises fulfilled.
Main idea(s):
The flowering of the promises of God (yes and amen in Christ) depend on God and demand a faith that, while it labors, is willing to wait on Him.
Sermon Outline:
- The mass of mess that's made when, for the promise, the faithful go fleshly. (16:1-6)
- The mass of grace displayed when, to the promise, God models faithfulness. (16:7-16)
Prepare
Discussion Questions:
- Read Genesis 16:1-16. Pray, 'Lord, open the eyes of my heart that I may see wonderful things in Your Word.'