SermonNotes May 27, 2012 FBCam
God’sGrace in the Ups and Downs of Life
Genesis21:1-21
Eventscan change IN A MOMENT. Our emotions can go from the top of theworld to the bottom of the barrel in flash of time.
Theyear was 1986. By now, the launch of the Space Shuttle was news butnot like it was during the first few launches. This launch wasdifferent because for the first time in history, a teacher was partof the crew and would conduct class instruction from orbit on thespace shuttle. Out of 11,000 teachers, one was chosen. Her name wasChrista McAuliffe. Students at Concord HS in New Hampshire gatheredin the school auditorium. It was an atmosphere of celebration. McAuliffewas THEIR teacher and she was a celebrity. But the joy andcelebration that filled the school auditorium was displaced just 73seconds into the flight of the Challenger. Something had goneterribly wrong and within minutes it was obvious that everyone onboard was killed. The children’s cheers and party horns wentsilent, as a day of celebration turned into a day of mourning.
Throughoutour lives, we encounter both triumphs and tragedies. Victories andstruggles. In all of them, God’s care is constant, as we willsee in Genesis 21. This section begins with the joyful celebrationof Isaac’s birth, and ends with the sad expulsion of Hagar andIshmael. In both parts of the story, Goddemonstrates his GRACE for those who call upon him.
God’sShowed His Grace When He Visited Sarah. Gen 21:1-7.
Verseone sa“God was gracious to Sarah.” root meaning = to“attendto with care” (TWOT)
Godfulfilled what he said. God promised in Genesis 17 that a childwould be born to Abraham through Sarah, his wife. Although this washumanly impossible, God demonstrated his power. As instructed by theLord, Abraham named his son Isaac. Gen 17:19… “yourwife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I willestablish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for hisdescendants after him.”(Genesis 17:19)
Sarahgives testimony to God’s faithfulness and power. (21:6-7). She proclaims that God has brought ME laughter. 21:6. Everyone whohears will LAUGH. 21:7. God did something impossible for Sarah.Compare 21:7 with Gen 18:12 “SoSarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn outand my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
Thedetails of this part of the story reveals that God was teachingsomething to Abraham and Sarah. These lessons are true for us today! Ray Pritchard makes the following observations in his sermon “God’sGood vs. God’s Best” (Ray Ray Pritchard, “God’sGood vs. God’s Best,” preached June 1996,www.keepbelieving.org).
They learned that God keeps his word. Gen 21:1 “the Lord did for Sarah what He had promised…”
They learned that God’s timing is always Perfect. This birth means more now than it would have 25 years ago, or even 75 years ago.
WeMESS UP on our Timing.
*Sayingthe WRONG thing at the WRONG TIME
*Investingwhen the Market is UP and withdrawing when the Marked is DOWN
*Themain dish is ready but the Potatoes are not done.
*ButGOD’s TIMING is always perfect.
They learned that God’s power is unlimited. Gen 21:7 “who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?”
They learned that God can turn sorrow into joy.
The scene in Abraham’s tent would have been joyous.
But the JOY soon turned to SADNESS.
2-3years pass, but the TEXT gives us the indication that it passed fromone event to the next. The focus of the narrative switches from thebirth of Isaac to the time when he was weaned, most likely about 2years later. This part of the story continues to teach us somethingabout God’s grace.
God’sGrace in Comforting Abraham. Gen 21:8-13
Ishmaelis now 16-17 years old. We know this because in Gen 16:3 Abraham is85 when Hagar gets pregnant. Abraham is 86 when Ishmael is born. InGen 17:1 Abraham is 99 when God reveals that Sarah will have a son. Abraham is now 100 when Isaac is born, making Ishmael about 14 . NOW, Isaac is weaned, prob 2 years later, making Ishmael 16. If youhave seen paintings of Hagar fleeing with Ishmael, they normally makeIshmael to look as if he is a little child of 6-7 years of age. Actually, he would have been a young man at this time. It does notmake the story less tragic, but it does fit the details of theAbraham narrative more clearly.
Atthis time in Isaac’s young life, his teen half-brother Ishmaelmocks Isaac. Perhaps is jealous. Perhapshe is angry or has sensed Sarah’s hostility toward him. Thereis MORE going on here than a dysfunctional home…. This battlerepresents a SPIRITUAL conflict. Representing the battle of the fleshand the spirit. The Apostle Paul reveals this truth in Galatians4:29 “Atthat time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born bythe power of the Spirit. It is the same now.”
Sarahresponds in the FLESH and expels Hagar and her son. However, GODCOMFORTS Abraham with a promise in Gen 21:12, ”Your blessingwill come through ISAAC.”
Godwould bless ISHMAEL and give him offspring. BUT ABRAHAM’S LACKOF FAITH would be a burden to future generations!
God’sGrace in Sparing Hagar and Ishmael. Gen 21:14-21
Abrahamcould not provide for Hagar’s needs. Only God’s promisebrings him comfort as he sends Hagar away with his son. But GODwould provide for her needs, as He alone can do.
Gen.21:17 presents anotherplay on words. “God has HEARD the boy crying…”
Ishmael’sname means “God Hears.” Just as ISAAC’S NAMEreveals God’s character, also ISHMAEL’S name revealsGod’s Character. God heard the boy’s cries and shows hisGrace.
Whenall other hope was gone, God reveals to Hagar a spring of water. Gen21:19 The WATER was there, but God had to OPEN her EYES so that shecould see it. God must open our eyes to see his provision as well.
God’sGrace in the Joys and Sorrows of Life.
Godshowed his Grace to Sarah. And although Sarah and Hagar wereopponents, God also showed his Grace to Hagar. He showed his graceto Abraham with a promise to bless his son Ishmael, even thoughIshmael was the result of Abraham’s lack of faith. And Godpromises to show his grace to you and me if we call upon him.
2Cor 9:8 “AndGod is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things atall times, having all that you need, you will abound in every goodwork.”
2Cor 12:9 “Buthe said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power ismade perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the moregladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest onme.”
Thereis one final observation before we move on from this passage. Onemore lesson taught to us from the life of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac,Hagar and Ishmael.
God’sGrace in Teaching us about Salvation through Hagar and Sarah.
Galatians4:21-31 contains an important and profound bit of informationconcerning this story. Paul uses this story as an analogy of thestruggle between the flesh and the Spirit and relates it to the wayin which we are saved. The passage in Galatians is a difficult oneto interpret, but it is best explained in the central verse. Relating to Ishmael as representing the fleshly effort to be saved byworks, Paul writes, “Hisson by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son bythe free woman was born as the result of a promise.”(Galatians 4:23)
Pauluses the picture of Hagar and Sarah to teach us about salvation. Hagar represents the LAW. Sarah represents the SPIRIT. Sarah gavebirth to Isaac in a SUPERNATURAL way. Salvation comes in aSUPERNATURAL way.
Godwill show his GRACE to you
Allyou have to do is CALL on HIM
“TheLordis near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”(Psalm 145:18)
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