1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and the Angel of the Lord said 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: unto her, behold thou art with child, and shalt bear 3 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: a son, and shall call his name Ishmael, because the 4 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 1: Lord hath heard thy affliction. Genesis sixteen eleven. To my 5 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 1: Lord and Savior, thank you that you are so many 6 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: things in my life, and in this moment I choose 7 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: to thank you for being a shield and a covering 8 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 1: for my heart. May the cry of Hagar also serve 9 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: as my cry when others seem to mistreat me, even 10 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: when my heart is in the right place, when my 11 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: good deeds go unnoticed, Like Hagar in Genesis sixteen, I 12 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 1: will run to my place of refuge and seek your 13 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: face with the full assurance that you are a good 14 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: God and that you have a love like no other 15 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 1: for me and my heart. I rest in the finished 16 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: fact that no matter what others do to me, I 17 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 1: can walk with my head held high because in spite 18 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: of how I'm treated, you will elevate and vindicate my life. 19 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: Thank you God that my story doesn't end with hurt, 20 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: but begins with your goodness. In Jesus' name, Amen, thank 21 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: you for praying with me today. Continue listening for an 22 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible in a 23 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: Year dot. 24 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 2: Com, Hagar and Ishmael. 25 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 3: Before this story, we learned about the covenant God made 26 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 3: to Abraham and a promise that his descendants would be 27 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 3: as many as the stars in the sky. Abram showed faith, 28 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 3: then God accounted it to him as righteousness. Now we 29 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 3: will learn about the lack of faith Abram shows and 30 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:13,519 Speaker 3: the birth of Ishmael, inspired by the Book of Genesis. 31 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 4: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible 32 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 4: in a Year podcast. We've been looking at the life 33 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 4: of Abram and God's promise to bless the world through him. 34 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 4: But Abram wasn't the only one in that plan. His 35 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 4: wife Sarah was to be the one to give him descendants, 36 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 4: and today we'll take a look at her and the 37 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 4: discouragement she and Abram felt as they continued to wait 38 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 4: on a promise yet to be fulfilled. Sometimes the journey 39 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 4: of faith feels like two steps forward, one step back, 40 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 4: and today we'll see how Abram and Sarah took a 41 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 4: big step back, a step born out of impatience and 42 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 4: a desire to do the work that only God could do. 43 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 4: Once more, we'll see the devastating effects of wanting to 44 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 4: be like God and of failing to take responsibility for sin. 45 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 4: Listen to how God continues to patiently walk with Abram 46 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 4: and his household, even in the midst of unfaithfulness. Abram's 47 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 4: sin would not go without consequence, but God keeps his 48 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 4: promise to never leave or forsake him. And then, finally, 49 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 4: pay attention to how God has compassion for those who, 50 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 4: like Sarah's servant Hagar, are wounded by the sins of others. 51 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 4: Now here's today's story of Abram, Sarah, and Hagar and Ishmael. 52 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 3: Years had passed since God's promise to give Abram and 53 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 3: Sarah descendants, so many years, in fact, that the possibility 54 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 3: of child rearing seemed far out of reach after all 55 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 3: God had promised. Abram and Sarah's hearts became discouraged. Out 56 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 3: of discouragement, impatience, and uncertainty, the two decided to repeat 57 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 3: the sins of their forefathers. They wanted to become like God. 58 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 3: SRI's impatience reeled within her as Eve took the forbidden 59 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 3: fruit so she would become like God. So Sirri devised 60 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 3: her own plan to replace God's plan. Go in to 61 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 3: my servant, Hagar and have a child with her. I 62 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 3: will claim the child as my own, she said Abram, 63 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 3: just as his ancestor, Adam, did nothing to defend his 64 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 3: wife's honor and integrity. Instead, he took the Egyptian made 65 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 3: servant to his bed, and the two embraced often and 66 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 3: had sex until a child was conceived. Given full permission 67 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 3: by his wife, yet ignoring the call to be a 68 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:55,160 Speaker 3: better man, Abram went into her again and again, falling 69 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 3: further from God's plan for him. When Hagar discovered she 70 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 3: had conceived, she looked at SARRII with contempt. Her body 71 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 3: had been used for the twisted desires of her insecure mistress, 72 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 3: and there was anger and hurt because of it. Sarai, 73 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 3: already feeling the shame welling up within her, lashed out 74 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 3: at Abram. This wrong done to me is on your hands. 75 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 3: I gave my servant for you to embrace. The second 76 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 3: she conceived, she looked on me with contempt. God will 77 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 3: judge you for this. The once noble and heroic Abram, 78 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 3: now crestfallen and pitiful, pressed into his sin even more. 79 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 3: She's your servant due to her as you please, as 80 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 3: Adam once did in the garden. Abram refused any responsibility 81 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 3: over his companion and allowed her heart to stray even further. 82 00:05:55,720 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 3: SIRRII abused her servant Hagar, her words and her fists 83 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 3: oppressed her into a panic. Feeling like she had no 84 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 3: other options, Hagar fled to the wilderness. Hagar ran until 85 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 3: she found refuge by a spring. There, an angel of 86 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 3: the Lord appeared to her, saying, Hagar, servant of Sarai, 87 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 3: where did you come from and where are you planning 88 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 3: on going? Frantic, pregnant and alone, she replied, I am 89 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 3: fleeing from the oppression of my mistress SARAHI, for she 90 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 3: has become cruel. The Lord, with compassion and understanding in 91 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 3: his voice, spoke clearly to her. Go back to your mistress, SARAHI, 92 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 3: submit to her. I, the creator of life itself, will 93 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 3: multiply your descendants as well, he continued. You shall bear 94 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 3: a son and call his name Ishmaeir, because I have 95 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 3: seen your affliction and heard your cries. Your son will 96 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 3: grow to be a wild and strong warrior. He will struggle, fight, 97 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,840 Speaker 3: and be beaten by many. The world will be against him. 98 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 3: But I will bless him, and he will gain the 99 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 3: respect of his people and rule over them. Hagar, having 100 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 3: just been used by her master and mistress, finally felt 101 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 3: some semblance of worth. She felt that God had truly 102 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 3: seen her. So there at the spring she gave a 103 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 3: personal name for God, the God of seeing. She said, 104 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 3: I have seen the God who looks after me. Hagar 105 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 3: returned to Saraian Abram and bore a son, just as 106 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 3: God had said. She named him Ishmael, which means God hears. 107 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 3: Abram was now eighty six years old, and his unfaithfulness 108 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 3: to God would not go without its consequences. Yet God's 109 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 3: promise to bless Abram was. 110 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 2: Not void, for he made a covenant and table and 111 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 2: would not leave him or forsake him. 112 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 4: Just yesterday, as we examined the story of Abram and Lot, 113 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 4: it seemed God's chosen vessel for his great plan of 114 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 4: redemption had learned his lesson. Abram was trusting God, seeking 115 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 4: him continually and waiting patiently, even when the promise seemed distant, 116 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 4: even and impossibility. But time is passed. As we reach 117 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 4: today's story, Abram and his wife Sarah are growing impatient, worse. 118 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 4: They once again decide to take matters into their own 119 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 4: hands and made a plan of their own. Here's a 120 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 4: powerful truth you need to hear. God invites us to 121 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 4: be a part of his plan, but he doesn't need 122 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 4: us to help him when something isn't happening yet, It 123 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 4: isn't because God can't do it or because he has 124 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 4: forgotten his promise. God is simply working in his own 125 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 4: perfect timing. Abraham and Sarah have forgotten that forgotten the 126 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 4: covenant that God had made, and they decided to act 127 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 4: like God. Enter Hagar, Sarah's younger, fertile servant. If she 128 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 4: can't have a baby, Sarah thinks her maid servant will 129 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 4: do the job for her, But that wasn't God's plan. 130 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 4: And when Hagar conceives, another character that we've seen before 131 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 4: emerges jealousy. Sarah now looks with jealousy on Hagar. Hagar, 132 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 4: for her part, gets prideful and looks with contempt on Sarah, 133 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 4: her mistress. But Abram is the wise hero of the story. 134 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 4: Right he'll step in and acknowledge the error and seek 135 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 4: reconciliation and forgiveness. Right, Well know not this time, Abram, 136 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 4: just as Adam did, shifts the responsibility off his own shoulders. 137 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 4: He refuses the mantle of leadership in his family and 138 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 4: tells Sarah to deal with her servant as she pleases. This, 139 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:01,319 Speaker 4: of course, doesn't go well. There's a relationational stress and 140 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 4: strife and separation all over the place. Hagar flees feeling worthless, 141 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 4: but the ever caring and loving God seeks her out 142 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 4: and comforts her. He promises that even though the son 143 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 4: she is bearing is not the one chosen for God's 144 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 4: ultimate plan of redemption and blessing, he will be a 145 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 4: great man. Listen to these beautiful, comforting words God spoke 146 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 4: to her through his angel Genesis sixteen eleven. The Angel 147 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 4: of the Lord said to her further, behold, you are pregnant, 148 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 4: and you will give birth to a son, and you 149 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 4: shall name him Ishmael, which means God hears, because the 150 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 4: Lord has heard your affliction. When you are going through trials, 151 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 4: through suffering, through disappointment, you can know too that God 152 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 4: hears you. Your cries are not falling on deaf ears. 153 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 4: God hears the cries of his children and cares deeply 154 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 4: for you. Abram's lack of faith will lead long lasting 155 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 4: tragic consequences. Yet still God renews his covenant and promises 156 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 4: the blessing will come just as God had promised. He 157 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 4: will not leave Abram. When your faith walk stumbles, God 158 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 4: promises the same to you. He will not cast you 159 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 4: out for your failures in Jesus Christ. He will restore 160 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 4: you and work his plan in your life for your 161 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 4: good and for his glory. Heavenly Father, thank you for 162 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:32,079 Speaker 4: this story that shows your compassion for those who are hurting, 163 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,359 Speaker 4: for those who are confused, for those who are struggling. 164 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 4: Thank you that we can know that you do, in 165 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 4: fact hear us and care for us as you did Hagar. 166 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 4: And thank you that when we stumble and fail and fall, 167 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 4: you remain with us. You have promised to never leave 168 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 4: or forsake us. Your presence is always with us. Amen. 169 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 4: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 170 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 4: I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray dot 171 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 4: Com app and make prayer a priority in your life. 172 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 4: If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you love. 173 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 4: By sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in 174 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 4: someone's life. And if you want more resources on how 175 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 4: to tap into God's power for successful Christian Living, be 176 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 4: sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless