WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.440 It's a joy to be with you this morning. It's lovely to be able to open God's Word together and to consider all that he has to say to us. 00:00:08.019 --> 00:00:13.280 And both this Sunday and next we're going to be looking at two of the names of God that we find in the Old Testament, 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:17.080 both of which appear in the record of the life of Abraham. 00:00:18.100 --> 00:00:24.019 And today we're going to be looking at a story in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, and in chapter 16. 00:00:24.019 --> 00:00:31.199 And to one couple, it appears as though God isn't doing anything at all. 00:00:32.579 --> 00:00:38.340 Yet someone else will discover that he is the God who sees everything. 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:44.859 In fact, she will declare, you are the God who sees me. 00:00:45.780 --> 00:00:50.620 In Hebrew it's pronounced El Roy, simply the God who sees. 00:00:50.619 --> 00:00:55.899 And like many stories in the Bible, it doesn't try to cover up the sins of the main characters, 00:00:56.140 --> 00:01:01.759 but instead it reveals more to us about the God whom we worship. 00:01:01.879 --> 00:01:05.700 So let's read together from Genesis chapter 16. 00:01:08.479 --> 00:01:12.900 Now, Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. 00:01:14.060 --> 00:01:16.560 But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:21.859 So she said to Abram, the Lord has kept me from having children. 00:01:22.260 --> 00:01:24.100 Go sleep with my slave. 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:27.439 Perhaps I can build a family through her. 00:01:28.659 --> 00:01:30.560 Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 00:01:31.900 --> 00:01:35.140 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, 00:01:35.620 --> 00:01:39.180 Sarai, his wife, took her Egyptian slave Hagar 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:42.859 and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 00:01:42.859 --> 00:01:46.560 He slept with Hagar and she conceived. 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:52.400 When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:55.819 Then Sarai said to Abram, 00:01:56.680 --> 00:02:00.000 You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:03.180 I put my slave in your arms 00:02:03.180 --> 00:02:05.420 and now that she knows she is pregnant, 00:02:05.980 --> 00:02:07.939 she despises me. 00:02:08.819 --> 00:02:11.900 May the Lord judge between you and me. 00:02:12.860 --> 00:02:16.860 Your slave is in your hands, Abram said. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:18.780 Do with her whatever you think best. 00:02:20.320 --> 00:02:22.340 Then Sarai mistreated Hagar, 00:02:22.920 --> 00:02:25.200 so she fled from her. 00:02:26.980 --> 00:02:31.000 The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert. 00:02:32.160 --> 00:02:35.160 It was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:37.379 And he said, 00:02:37.379 --> 00:02:41.060 Hagar, slave of Sarai, 00:02:41.620 --> 00:02:43.879 where have you come from 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:46.680 and where are you going? 00:02:48.219 --> 00:02:50.439 I am running away from my mistress, 00:02:51.079 --> 00:02:52.300 Sarai, she answered. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:55.439 Then the angel of the Lord told her, 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:57.400 Go back to your mistress 00:02:57.400 --> 00:02:59.180 and submit to her. 00:02:59.180 --> 00:03:02.040 The angel added, 00:03:02.640 --> 00:03:05.939 I will increase your descendants so much 00:03:05.939 --> 00:03:08.780 that they will be too numerous to count. 00:03:10.140 --> 00:03:12.580 The angel of the Lord also said to her, 00:03:12.980 --> 00:03:14.300 You are now pregnant 00:03:14.300 --> 00:03:16.200 and you will give birth to a son. 00:03:16.819 --> 00:03:18.520 You shall name him Ishmael 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:21.620 for the Lord has heard of your misery. 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:25.960 He will be a wild donkey of a man. 00:03:26.740 --> 00:03:28.900 His hand will be against everyone 00:03:28.900 --> 00:03:31.120 and everyone's hand against him. 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:33.960 And he will live in hostility 00:03:33.960 --> 00:03:35.340 toward all his brothers. 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:39.320 She gave this name to the Lord 00:03:39.320 --> 00:03:40.439 who spoke to her. 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:43.419 You are the God 00:03:43.419 --> 00:03:45.859 who sees me. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:48.340 For she said, 00:03:48.539 --> 00:03:50.000 I have now seen 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:53.159 the one who sees me. 00:03:54.419 --> 00:03:56.460 That is why the well was called 00:03:56.460 --> 00:03:57.840 Beer the Hoy Roy. 00:03:58.520 --> 00:03:59.460 It is still there 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:01.300 between Kadesh and Beret. 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:04.479 So Hagar bore Abram a son 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:07.539 and Abram gave him the name Ishmael 00:04:07.539 --> 00:04:09.919 to the son she had born. 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:13.199 Abram was 86 years old 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:17.240 when Hagar bore him Ishmael. 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:19.959 So Father, we pray now 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:22.579 that you would continue to speak 00:04:22.579 --> 00:04:24.060 these words by your spirit 00:04:24.060 --> 00:04:24.980 to our hearts 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:28.079 so we might get a better view 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:29.180 of who you are 00:04:29.180 --> 00:04:31.540 and that we might see clearly 00:04:31.540 --> 00:04:33.000 who we are. 00:04:34.459 --> 00:04:34.740 And Father, 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:35.980 where those things that we see 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:38.500 would cause us to want to turn away 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:39.300 and not to look, 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:39.939 we pray, 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:41.519 that you would help us 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:43.480 to understand 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:45.439 that you reveal our hearts 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:48.259 so that we might turn to you 00:04:48.259 --> 00:04:50.779 and run to Jesus our Saviour. 00:04:52.139 --> 00:04:52.779 And so Lord, 00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:54.920 do what you will in our hearts 00:04:54.920 --> 00:04:55.519 this day, 00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:56.199 I pray. 00:04:57.199 --> 00:04:58.319 In Jesus' name. 00:04:59.459 --> 00:04:59.860 Amen. 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:00.000 Amen. 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:04.540 It was about 30 years ago, 00:05:04.920 --> 00:05:06.680 but I still remember it so well. 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:09.480 I woke up on Christmas morning 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:12.680 with a throbbing pain in my mouth. 00:05:13.139 --> 00:05:15.100 I spent the day in bed 00:05:15.100 --> 00:05:17.040 feeling really miserable for myself 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:18.379 while the rest of the family 00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:20.500 tucked into their Christmas dinner. 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:23.160 there was obviously no doctor 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:24.959 or dentist open on that day. 00:05:25.899 --> 00:05:27.300 I couldn't face the thought 00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:28.100 of Christmas Day 00:05:28.100 --> 00:05:29.279 an accident and emergency. 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:29.839 Thankfully, 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:31.120 we knew someone 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:32.279 who was able to give me 00:05:32.279 --> 00:05:33.160 some penicillin 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:34.560 to get started, 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:35.279 but it turned out 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:36.199 it was an abscess 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:39.159 and I was going to have to 00:05:39.159 --> 00:05:40.300 start a series of treatment 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:41.500 at the School of Dentistry 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:42.759 in Belfast 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:44.079 for a number of months. 00:05:44.860 --> 00:05:45.779 I arrived for one 00:05:45.779 --> 00:05:46.519 of those appointments, 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:48.519 went to the reception desk, 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:50.360 gave them my appointment card 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:51.839 and took my seat. 00:05:52.699 --> 00:05:54.099 I had carefully counted 00:05:54.099 --> 00:05:55.620 the number of people before me 00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:56.319 just as you do 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:57.959 to work out your place 00:05:57.959 --> 00:05:59.019 in the queue 00:05:59.019 --> 00:06:01.039 and I waited patiently 00:06:01.039 --> 00:06:01.899 for my turn. 00:06:03.339 --> 00:06:04.180 But when it came 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:05.000 to what I thought 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:05.860 was my turn, 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:08.360 someone else was called 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:09.180 instead of me. 00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:11.139 My mistake, 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:11.699 I thought, 00:06:12.159 --> 00:06:13.579 I'll just wait patiently. 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:16.039 But then someone else 00:06:16.039 --> 00:06:16.599 was called 00:06:16.599 --> 00:06:17.639 and then someone else 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:18.599 and then someone else. 00:06:18.659 --> 00:06:19.639 It kept going on 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:21.519 until even I realised 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:22.919 that this was far too long 00:06:22.919 --> 00:06:23.839 to wait. 00:06:24.599 --> 00:06:26.399 I went up to the reception desk 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:27.039 and asked, 00:06:27.339 --> 00:06:28.339 ever so politely, 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:30.099 if I had been overlooked. 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:32.500 Well, I'd been more than overlooked. 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:33.699 My appointment card 00:06:33.699 --> 00:06:34.779 had been thrown in the bin 00:06:34.779 --> 00:06:36.639 and I've been sitting there 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:37.379 all day 00:06:37.379 --> 00:06:38.699 with nobody to see me. 00:06:39.979 --> 00:06:40.339 You know, 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:41.019 sometimes 00:06:41.019 --> 00:06:43.519 we can feel that way 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:44.879 about God. 00:06:46.259 --> 00:06:47.679 We have brought 00:06:47.679 --> 00:06:48.419 something 00:06:48.419 --> 00:06:50.179 to him. 00:06:50.180 --> 00:06:52.699 we have left it 00:06:52.699 --> 00:06:54.500 with him. 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:56.600 We have waited 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:57.439 patiently 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:59.600 for him. 00:07:01.340 --> 00:07:02.620 And we've waited 00:07:02.620 --> 00:07:03.639 what we think 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:04.400 is more 00:07:04.400 --> 00:07:05.759 than a reasonable 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:06.780 period of time 00:07:06.780 --> 00:07:08.280 to wait on God's answer 00:07:08.280 --> 00:07:10.199 and it appears 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:11.680 that God 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:13.060 is doing 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:14.360 nothing. 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:17.420 and we decide 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:18.220 that we cannot 00:07:18.220 --> 00:07:18.860 wait 00:07:18.860 --> 00:07:20.460 any longer. 00:07:21.819 --> 00:07:22.500 That's how 00:07:22.500 --> 00:07:23.720 Sarai is feeling 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:25.060 in Genesis 16. 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:26.879 God has promised 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:27.400 to make 00:07:27.400 --> 00:07:28.080 Abram 00:07:28.080 --> 00:07:29.319 into a great 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:29.960 nation 00:07:29.960 --> 00:07:31.080 with descendants 00:07:31.080 --> 00:07:32.060 that will outnumber 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:33.300 the stars of the sky. 00:07:34.699 --> 00:07:35.920 But at this point 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:36.379 in time 00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:37.020 it wouldn't take 00:07:37.020 --> 00:07:37.860 the whole weekend 00:07:37.860 --> 00:07:39.540 to do a stock take. 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:41.240 The total 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:42.740 is none. 00:07:43.780 --> 00:07:44.300 Not 00:07:44.300 --> 00:07:45.259 one 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:46.319 child. 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:48.199 Not even 00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:49.319 an expected 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:49.840 child. 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:51.560 And as time 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:52.319 was passing 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:52.920 by 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:54.139 Sarai was 00:07:54.139 --> 00:07:54.759 giving up 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:55.639 on any chance 00:07:55.639 --> 00:07:56.939 of giving birth. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:07:59.439 She concludes 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:00.780 that this God 00:08:00.780 --> 00:08:01.519 who made 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:02.340 these promises 00:08:02.340 --> 00:08:03.879 is doing 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:04.319 nothing 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:06.220 and she 00:08:06.220 --> 00:08:07.360 cannot wait 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:08.920 any longer. 00:08:08.920 --> 00:08:11.360 So she 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:11.819 hatches 00:08:11.819 --> 00:08:12.360 a plan. 00:08:13.699 --> 00:08:14.199 But it's 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:14.900 a plan 00:08:14.900 --> 00:08:16.040 that lacks 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:17.120 faith. 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:19.040 The story 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:19.480 is written 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:20.540 so well 00:08:20.540 --> 00:08:21.620 that we are 00:08:21.620 --> 00:08:22.660 almost thinking 00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:23.759 Sarai's thoughts 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:24.680 before her. 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:26.360 Verse 1 00:08:26.360 --> 00:08:28.680 Now Sarai 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:29.879 Abram's wife 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:30.720 had borne him 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:31.639 no children 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:32.840 but 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:35.399 she had 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:36.200 an Egyptian 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:37.360 maidservant 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:37.860 named 00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:38.800 Hagar. 00:08:38.919 --> 00:08:40.839 Now even 00:08:40.839 --> 00:08:41.159 if you've 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:41.599 never heard 00:08:41.599 --> 00:08:42.079 this story 00:08:42.079 --> 00:08:42.679 before 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:43.759 you already 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:44.419 know what 00:08:44.419 --> 00:08:45.079 Sarai is 00:08:45.079 --> 00:08:45.519 thinking. 00:08:46.459 --> 00:08:47.120 Even if 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:47.399 you're 00:08:47.399 --> 00:08:47.839 thinking 00:08:47.839 --> 00:08:48.779 no 00:08:48.779 --> 00:08:49.399 she 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:49.899 can't 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:50.279 do 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:50.839 that. 00:08:51.799 --> 00:08:51.919 But 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:52.699 verse 2 00:08:52.699 --> 00:08:53.860 she said 00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:54.579 to Abram 00:08:54.579 --> 00:08:55.139 the Lord 00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:55.860 has kept 00:08:55.860 --> 00:08:56.240 me from 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:56.539 having 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:56.979 children 00:08:56.979 --> 00:08:57.679 go 00:08:57.679 --> 00:08:58.399 sleep 00:08:58.399 --> 00:08:58.559 with 00:08:58.559 --> 00:08:58.799 my 00:08:58.799 --> 00:08:59.659 maidservant 00:08:59.659 --> 00:09:00.219 perhaps 00:09:00.219 --> 00:09:01.059 I can 00:09:01.059 --> 00:09:01.479 build a 00:09:01.479 --> 00:09:01.819 family 00:09:01.819 --> 00:09:02.099 through 00:09:02.099 --> 00:09:02.479 her. 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:05.000 you 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:05.139 see 00:09:05.139 --> 00:09:05.279 it's 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:05.720 a plan 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:05.920 that 00:09:05.920 --> 00:09:06.300 lacks 00:09:06.300 --> 00:09:06.940 faith 00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:08.279 because 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:08.600 it is 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:09.360 a plan 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:10.039 that 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:10.879 resists 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:11.820 God. 00:09:12.820 --> 00:09:13.600 It 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:14.019 appears 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:14.500 here 00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:14.899 in the 00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:15.240 form 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:15.460 of 00:09:15.460 --> 00:09:15.920 blame. 00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:16.580 Look 00:09:16.580 --> 00:09:16.900 at what 00:09:16.900 --> 00:09:17.280 Sarai 00:09:17.280 --> 00:09:17.639 says 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:17.820 in 00:09:17.820 --> 00:09:18.060 verse 00:09:18.060 --> 00:09:18.420 2 00:09:18.420 --> 00:09:19.000 the 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:19.700 Lord 00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:20.780 has 00:09:20.780 --> 00:09:21.300 kept 00:09:21.300 --> 00:09:21.820 me 00:09:21.820 --> 00:09:22.520 from 00:09:22.520 --> 00:09:23.060 having 00:09:23.060 --> 00:09:24.240 children. 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:26.200 She 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:26.820 recognises 00:09:26.820 --> 00:09:27.460 that God 00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:27.820 is the 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:28.360 author 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:29.360 of her 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:30.500 barrenness. 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:31.559 She 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:31.759 knows 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:32.220 that he 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:32.720 is the 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:33.019 source 00:09:33.019 --> 00:09:33.519 of all 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:33.919 life 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:34.600 and she 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:35.000 knows 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:35.360 that it 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:36.000 is he 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:36.840 who has 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:37.679 withheld 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:38.179 life. 00:09:39.100 --> 00:09:39.240 But 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:39.919 Sarai 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:40.259 will 00:09:40.259 --> 00:09:40.860 resist 00:09:40.860 --> 00:09:41.480 God's 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:41.879 will. 00:09:42.279 --> 00:09:42.539 She's 00:09:42.539 --> 00:09:43.059 determined 00:09:43.059 --> 00:09:43.460 to have 00:09:43.460 --> 00:09:44.039 a child 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:44.720 and if 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:44.980 God 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:45.460 will not 00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:45.980 give her 00:09:45.980 --> 00:09:46.360 one 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:47.039 she 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:47.679 will do 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:47.960 it 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:48.759 herself. 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:50.820 She 00:09:50.820 --> 00:09:51.220 puts it 00:09:51.220 --> 00:09:51.860 as plainly 00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:52.299 as that. 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:54.179 Go 00:09:54.179 --> 00:09:54.840 sleep 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:55.259 with my 00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:56.179 maidservant 00:09:56.179 --> 00:09:56.580 perhaps 00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:57.419 I 00:09:57.419 --> 00:09:58.240 can 00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:58.500 build 00:09:58.500 --> 00:09:58.700 a 00:09:58.700 --> 00:09:59.179 family 00:09:59.179 --> 00:10:00.399 through 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:00.840 her. 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:02.500 Do you 00:10:02.500 --> 00:10:02.879 hear those 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:03.299 words? 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:04.120 Perhaps 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:04.860 I 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:05.679 can 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:05.959 build 00:10:05.959 --> 00:10:06.139 a 00:10:06.139 --> 00:10:06.579 family 00:10:06.579 --> 00:10:07.439 through 00:10:07.439 --> 00:10:07.819 her. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:09.019 This 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:09.759 will be 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:10.639 Sarai's 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:11.139 doing. 00:10:12.319 --> 00:10:12.659 She's 00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:12.959 not going 00:10:12.959 --> 00:10:13.399 to sit 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:13.819 around 00:10:13.819 --> 00:10:14.159 any 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:14.679 longer. 00:10:15.459 --> 00:10:15.919 Since 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:16.299 God 00:10:16.299 --> 00:10:16.720 appears 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:17.019 to be 00:10:17.019 --> 00:10:17.319 doing 00:10:17.319 --> 00:10:17.959 nothing 00:10:17.959 --> 00:10:19.259 well 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:19.779 Sarai 00:10:19.779 --> 00:10:20.199 is going 00:10:20.199 --> 00:10:20.659 to do 00:10:20.659 --> 00:10:21.500 something. 00:10:23.340 --> 00:10:24.019 It's 00:10:24.019 --> 00:10:24.460 a plan 00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:24.960 that lacks 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:25.419 faith 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:25.699 because 00:10:25.699 --> 00:10:26.199 first of 00:10:26.199 --> 00:10:26.480 all it 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:26.939 resists 00:10:26.939 --> 00:10:27.379 God 00:10:27.379 --> 00:10:28.600 but it's 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:29.019 a plan 00:10:29.019 --> 00:10:29.480 that lacks 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:29.819 faith 00:10:29.819 --> 00:10:30.259 because 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:30.740 it is 00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:31.439 completely 00:10:31.439 --> 00:10:32.799 Sarai's 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:33.240 own 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.259 doing. 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:37.039 Now you 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:37.419 and I 00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:37.939 have no 00:10:37.939 --> 00:10:38.439 shortage 00:10:38.439 --> 00:10:39.379 of plans 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:40.659 that lack 00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:41.139 faith. 00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:43.860 We can 00:10:43.860 --> 00:10:44.539 gamble in 00:10:44.539 --> 00:10:44.879 the hope 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:45.279 of paying 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:45.980 off debts. 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:47.679 We can 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:48.379 use alcohol 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:49.059 to numb 00:10:49.059 --> 00:10:49.879 our pain. 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:51.360 We can 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:52.220 alter tax 00:10:52.220 --> 00:10:52.840 returns so 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:53.059 that we 00:10:53.059 --> 00:10:53.980 pay less 00:10:53.980 --> 00:10:54.379 than we 00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:54.740 should. 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:56.279 We can 00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:56.840 enter into 00:10:56.840 --> 00:10:57.700 relationships 00:10:57.700 --> 00:10:58.740 and non-Christians 00:10:58.740 --> 00:10:59.800 because there 00:10:59.800 --> 00:11:00.300 seems to be 00:11:00.300 --> 00:11:01.000 no prospect 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:01.700 of a 00:11:01.700 --> 00:11:02.340 Christian 00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:03.060 boyfriend 00:11:03.060 --> 00:11:03.460 or 00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:04.140 girlfriend. 00:11:05.140 --> 00:11:05.780 We can 00:11:05.780 --> 00:11:06.259 dress up 00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:06.900 our CV 00:11:06.900 --> 00:11:07.500 because we 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:07.900 think that 00:11:07.900 --> 00:11:08.280 if we're 00:11:08.280 --> 00:11:09.020 truthful 00:11:09.020 --> 00:11:10.340 we're not 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:10.800 likely to 00:11:10.800 --> 00:11:11.240 get that 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:11.840 job. 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:13.480 We have 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:14.300 no shortage 00:11:14.300 --> 00:11:15.100 of plans 00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:15.660 that lack 00:11:15.660 --> 00:11:16.379 faith. 00:11:18.140 --> 00:11:19.060 It isn't 00:11:19.060 --> 00:11:19.680 easy to 00:11:19.680 --> 00:11:20.640 trust God 00:11:20.640 --> 00:11:22.480 when he 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:23.140 appears 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:24.240 to do 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:24.639 nothing. 00:11:26.100 --> 00:11:26.639 It can 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.100 feel as 00:11:27.100 --> 00:11:27.379 though we 00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:27.960 cannot wait 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:28.779 any longer 00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:30.299 and we 00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:31.419 hatch plans 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:32.720 that lack 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:33.220 faith. 00:11:34.819 --> 00:11:35.360 In fact 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:35.879 we do 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:37.259 things that 00:11:37.259 --> 00:11:37.919 we know 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:39.100 resist God 00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:40.240 and his 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:40.699 purposes. 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:43.080 We do 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:43.659 things that 00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:44.480 we know 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:45.139 are wrong 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:46.360 but we 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:46.720 do them 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:47.360 anyway 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:49.600 because it 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:50.379 seems that 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:51.840 it's the 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:52.580 answer to 00:11:52.580 --> 00:11:53.180 the immediate 00:11:53.180 --> 00:11:53.820 problem that 00:11:53.820 --> 00:11:54.360 we face. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:57.759 But these 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:58.220 plans are 00:11:58.220 --> 00:11:58.680 not of 00:11:58.680 --> 00:11:59.080 faith. 00:12:00.160 --> 00:12:00.980 In fact 00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:01.320 they are 00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:02.960 faithless. 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:05.860 It is 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:06.879 Sarai who 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:07.639 hatches the 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:09.360 plan but 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:09.980 we assume 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:10.860 that Abram 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:12.080 will not 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:12.480 go along 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:12.920 with it. 00:12:13.800 --> 00:12:14.480 After all 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:14.900 this is 00:12:14.900 --> 00:12:15.600 Abram the 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.139 man of 00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:16.820 faith. 00:12:17.640 --> 00:12:18.020 This is 00:12:18.020 --> 00:12:19.200 Abram the 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:19.920 friend of 00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:20.640 God. 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:20.699 said. 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:22.799 But we 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:23.120 read in 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:23.980 verse 3 00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:26.100 Abram 00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:28.220 agreed with 00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:29.139 what Sarai 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:30.500 had said. 00:12:31.939 --> 00:12:32.899 It's sadly 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:33.419 reminiscent 00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:34.059 isn't it of 00:12:34.059 --> 00:12:34.919 another story 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:36.360 the story of 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:37.139 the fall 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:37.840 itself. 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:39.620 You remember 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.179 that Eve 00:12:40.179 --> 00:12:40.639 took the 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:41.120 fruit which 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:41.419 had been 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:42.120 forbidden to 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:43.259 her and 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:43.659 she gave 00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:43.919 it to 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:44.259 Adam. 00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:46.039 And what 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:46.460 does Adam 00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:46.740 do? 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:48.240 he takes 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:49.700 and eats. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:51.659 He's 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:51.879 without 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:52.340 excuse. 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:52.860 The Lord 00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:53.899 later rebukes 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:54.279 him saying 00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:54.980 because you 00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:55.919 listened to 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:56.680 your wife 00:12:56.680 --> 00:12:57.139 and ate 00:12:57.139 --> 00:12:57.659 from the 00:12:57.659 --> 00:12:58.379 tree. 00:12:59.659 --> 00:12:59.919 You see 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:00.560 behind the 00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:01.039 voice of 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:03.200 Eve was 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:03.680 the voice 00:13:03.680 --> 00:13:04.200 of the 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:05.519 evil one. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:07.039 And behind 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:07.580 the voice 00:13:07.580 --> 00:13:08.720 of Sarai 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:09.399 was the 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:09.860 voice of 00:13:09.860 --> 00:13:11.000 the evil 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:11.399 one. 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:12.680 And both 00:13:12.680 --> 00:13:13.340 Adam and 00:13:13.340 --> 00:13:14.220 Abram should 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:14.840 have recognized 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:15.660 the real 00:13:15.660 --> 00:13:17.280 voice behind 00:13:17.280 --> 00:13:18.600 their wives 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:19.720 words. 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:22.840 You'll 00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:23.259 remember a 00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:23.820 time when 00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:24.800 Jesus recognized 00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:25.680 the voice of 00:13:25.680 --> 00:13:26.259 the evil 00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:27.899 one in 00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:28.340 the words 00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:28.600 of a 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:29.360 close friend. 00:13:30.780 --> 00:13:31.620 Jesus had 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:32.440 just revealed 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:32.800 to his 00:13:32.800 --> 00:13:33.600 disciples that 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:34.139 death lay 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:34.620 ahead of 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:34.879 him. 00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:36.300 But you 00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:36.700 remember that 00:13:36.700 --> 00:13:37.940 Peter resists 00:13:37.940 --> 00:13:38.580 what Jesus 00:13:38.580 --> 00:13:39.259 says. 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:40.540 Never 00:13:40.540 --> 00:13:41.600 Lord this 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:42.660 shall never 00:13:42.660 --> 00:13:43.440 happen to 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:43.900 you. 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:46.080 And you 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:46.540 know Jesus' 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:47.340 response? 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:49.120 Get 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:50.720 behind me 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:51.860 Satan. 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:54.019 You are a 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:54.960 stumbling block 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:55.560 to me. 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.180 You do 00:13:57.180 --> 00:13:57.759 not have in 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:58.320 mind the 00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:58.780 things of 00:13:58.780 --> 00:14:00.180 God but 00:14:00.180 --> 00:14:00.899 the things 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:01.960 of men. 00:14:03.820 --> 00:14:04.220 You see 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:04.920 we need to 00:14:04.920 --> 00:14:05.500 learn to 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:06.399 recognize the 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:06.920 voice of 00:14:06.920 --> 00:14:07.620 the evil 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:09.420 one when 00:14:09.420 --> 00:14:10.139 it comes to 00:14:10.139 --> 00:14:10.700 us through 00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:11.519 the words 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:12.800 of others. 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:14.799 God 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:15.240 maybe I 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:15.399 should 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:16.319 clarify just 00:14:16.319 --> 00:14:16.859 in case I 00:14:16.859 --> 00:14:17.539 misunderstood 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:18.819 that it's 00:14:18.819 --> 00:14:19.559 not only 00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:20.519 through wives 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.559 that the 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:22.159 voice of the 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:22.839 evil one 00:14:22.839 --> 00:14:23.500 can be 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:23.839 heard. 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:25.359 It can 00:14:25.359 --> 00:14:25.919 come through 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:27.000 husbands and 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:27.599 children, 00:14:28.199 --> 00:14:29.059 parents and 00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:29.579 siblings, 00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:30.939 work colleagues 00:14:30.939 --> 00:14:31.899 and friends 00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:33.039 and we need 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:33.779 to recognize 00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:34.559 it for what 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:35.779 it is to 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:36.379 learn to 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.319 resist it as 00:14:37.319 --> 00:14:38.139 Jesus did 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:39.120 no matter 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:39.620 what the 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:40.799 consequences may 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:41.459 be. 00:14:44.179 --> 00:14:45.379 This plan, 00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:47.139 this plan 00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:47.599 that lacked 00:14:47.599 --> 00:14:48.079 faith, 00:14:49.459 --> 00:14:50.099 was also 00:14:50.099 --> 00:14:50.899 a plan 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:52.039 that lacked 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:53.219 foresight. 00:14:55.099 --> 00:14:55.979 It's one of 00:14:55.979 --> 00:14:56.659 those plans 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:57.120 that when 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:58.019 later revealed 00:14:58.019 --> 00:14:58.919 you want to 00:14:58.919 --> 00:14:59.419 ask, 00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:00.859 what were 00:15:00.859 --> 00:15:01.519 you thinking? 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.659 What were 00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:04.719 you thinking? 00:15:05.839 --> 00:15:06.719 We often 00:15:06.719 --> 00:15:07.120 ask our 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:07.679 children that 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:08.000 question, 00:15:08.099 --> 00:15:08.359 don't we, 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:08.839 after they've 00:15:08.839 --> 00:15:09.359 done something 00:15:09.359 --> 00:15:09.799 foolish. 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:10.839 what were 00:15:10.839 --> 00:15:11.839 you thinking? 00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:13.059 And the 00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:13.679 best defense 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:14.120 I've ever 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:14.500 heard from 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:15.039 any of my 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:15.500 children is 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:16.159 simply this, 00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:18.039 I wasn't 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:18.439 thinking. 00:15:20.359 --> 00:15:20.839 But it's 00:15:20.839 --> 00:15:21.259 not only 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:22.240 children whose 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.139 plans lack 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:24.299 foresight. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:25.959 We all 00:15:25.959 --> 00:15:26.659 get sucked 00:15:26.659 --> 00:15:27.699 into situations 00:15:27.699 --> 00:15:28.399 that resolve 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.059 an immediate 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:29.719 problem, 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:31.399 only to 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:31.819 create an 00:15:31.819 --> 00:15:32.740 even bigger 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:33.079 one. 00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:34.620 That's 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.179 exactly what 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:35.879 Abram does. 00:15:35.979 --> 00:15:36.500 He listens 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.219 to Sarai, 00:15:37.459 --> 00:15:38.099 he takes 00:15:38.099 --> 00:15:38.679 Hagar as 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:38.979 another 00:15:38.979 --> 00:15:39.419 wife, 00:15:39.739 --> 00:15:40.359 she becomes 00:15:40.359 --> 00:15:40.839 pregnant, 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:41.579 and the 00:15:41.579 --> 00:15:42.500 result is 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:43.979 conflict 00:15:43.979 --> 00:15:44.500 between 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.179 Hagar and 00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:45.620 Sarai. 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:47.019 Well, 00:15:47.099 --> 00:15:47.919 who could 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:48.579 have foreseen 00:15:48.579 --> 00:15:49.039 that? 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:50.879 Well, 00:15:50.959 --> 00:15:51.639 anybody, 00:15:52.439 --> 00:15:54.179 anybody who 00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:54.559 has thought 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:55.139 about it. 00:15:56.199 --> 00:15:57.279 Of course it 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:57.859 would lead to 00:15:57.859 --> 00:15:58.559 tension in the 00:15:58.559 --> 00:15:58.939 family. 00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:00.219 Of course 00:16:00.219 --> 00:16:01.079 Sarai would 00:16:01.079 --> 00:16:01.659 feel better 00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:02.439 that Hagar is 00:16:02.439 --> 00:16:03.079 able to give 00:16:03.079 --> 00:16:03.879 to Abraham 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.559 what she could 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:04.879 not. 00:16:05.219 --> 00:16:05.719 Of course 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:06.440 Hagar would 00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:06.899 look down 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.440 on Sarai. 00:16:07.800 --> 00:16:08.580 Anyone could 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:09.220 have foreseen 00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:11.120 it, except 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:11.779 those who 00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:12.200 weren't 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:13.160 thinking. 00:16:15.040 --> 00:16:15.660 That's what 00:16:15.660 --> 00:16:16.379 happens when 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:17.080 we resist 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:18.340 God and 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:18.700 when we 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:19.680 hatch plans 00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:20.279 that lack 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:20.980 faith. 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.480 We think 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:22.899 that God 00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:23.320 is not 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:23.620 doing 00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:24.360 anything, 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:26.019 and we 00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:26.560 act as 00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:27.019 though God 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:27.600 does not 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:29.139 see anything, 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:31.080 but we 00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:31.759 discover from 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.220 the rest 00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:32.539 of the 00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:33.039 story, 00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:34.100 that he 00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:34.600 is the 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.580 God who 00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:36.200 sees 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.679 everything. 00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:40.759 You see, 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:41.539 Abraham thought 00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:42.179 that by doing 00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:42.759 what Sarai 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.200 wanted, 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:43.580 he would 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:43.939 at least 00:16:43.939 --> 00:16:45.100 enjoy some 00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:45.539 peace in 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:45.960 the home. 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.299 But there 00:16:47.299 --> 00:16:47.799 is more 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:48.759 unrest than 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.059 ever. 00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:50.879 She now 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:51.539 starts blaming 00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:52.220 Abraham for 00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:52.580 the whole 00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:52.919 thing. 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:53.659 It's all 00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:54.639 his fault. 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.179 And Abraham 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:57.000 pursues his 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.720 desire of a 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.960 quiet life by 00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.759 simply telling 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:00.600 Sarai to do 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:02.080 with Hagar as 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:02.560 she sees 00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:02.899 fit. 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:05.360 She begins 00:17:05.360 --> 00:17:05.799 to treat 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.579 Hagar so 00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:07.259 badly that 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:07.740 she cannot 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:08.440 take it any 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.980 longer, and 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.500 she runs 00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:10.920 away. 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:13.980 But this 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.779 is a God 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:16.160 who sees 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:17.660 everything. 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.500 He sees 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:22.059 our suffering, 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:23.519 and he 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:25.440 sees Hagar's 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.259 suffering. 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:27.880 And not in 00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:28.460 a distant, 00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:29.160 far away 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:29.779 sense, 00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:31.440 he sees 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:32.180 our suffering 00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:32.960 in a very 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:34.319 near sense. 00:17:34.399 --> 00:17:34.639 Look at 00:17:34.639 --> 00:17:35.319 verse 7. 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:37.079 The angel 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:37.720 of the 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:38.879 Lord found 00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:39.740 Hagar. 00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:41.960 It suggests 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:42.480 that he was 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.480 looking for 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:43.700 her. 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:45.019 Not that God 00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:45.519 didn't know 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:45.859 where she 00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:47.299 was, but 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:47.680 that he 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.559 sought her 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:49.660 in her 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:50.079 suffering. 00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:52.359 He had 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:53.700 seen how 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:55.180 Sarai had 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:55.819 treated her. 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:57.899 He had 00:17:57.899 --> 00:17:59.299 seen how 00:17:59.299 --> 00:18:00.059 cruelly 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:00.980 she had 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:01.139 been 00:18:01.139 --> 00:18:01.480 treated, 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:03.720 and he 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.240 had seen 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:04.940 her flee 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:05.879 for safety. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:07.899 None of 00:18:07.899 --> 00:18:08.740 it had 00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.359 escaped 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.240 God's 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:10.659 notice. 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:12.339 Absolutely 00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:13.779 none of 00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:14.319 it, because 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:15.839 he sees 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:16.960 everything. 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:20.119 We're inclined 00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:20.579 to think, 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:20.980 aren't we, 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:21.700 at times, 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:23.120 that God 00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:23.660 doesn't 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:24.160 really 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:25.039 appreciate 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:26.559 our 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:26.940 suffering. 00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:29.539 We feel 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:29.799 that he 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.299 has turned 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.299 his back 00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.559 on us. 00:18:33.840 --> 00:18:34.360 In fact, 00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:34.799 it's as 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:35.240 though 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:37.180 he's able 00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:37.720 to block 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:38.340 us out of 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:38.920 his thinking 00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:40.120 completely. 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:42.719 because if 00:18:42.719 --> 00:18:43.439 he really 00:18:43.439 --> 00:18:45.119 saw what 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:45.479 we were 00:18:45.479 --> 00:18:45.879 going 00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:46.359 through, 00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:48.099 he would 00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:48.939 surely do 00:18:48.939 --> 00:18:49.579 something 00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:51.459 about it. 00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:55.059 But all 00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:55.759 this time, 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.679 he appears 00:18:57.679 --> 00:18:58.159 to do 00:18:58.159 --> 00:18:59.379 nothing. 00:19:00.939 --> 00:19:01.799 Yet he's 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.459 the God 00:19:02.459 --> 00:19:03.979 who sees 00:19:03.979 --> 00:19:04.419 everything. 00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.079 You 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:07.439 remember when 00:19:07.439 --> 00:19:08.059 God sent 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:08.879 Moses back 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:09.200 to the 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:09.440 Hebrew 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:09.980 slaves in 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.300 Egypt. 00:19:11.300 --> 00:19:11.820 He told 00:19:11.820 --> 00:19:12.120 him to 00:19:12.120 --> 00:19:12.840 bring God's 00:19:12.840 --> 00:19:13.280 words to 00:19:13.280 --> 00:19:13.700 the elders 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:14.360 of Israel, 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:15.740 I have 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.280 watched 00:19:16.280 --> 00:19:17.400 over you 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.620 and have 00:19:18.620 --> 00:19:19.320 seen 00:19:19.320 --> 00:19:20.440 what has 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:21.120 been done 00:19:21.120 --> 00:19:22.520 to you. 00:19:23.620 --> 00:19:24.320 None of 00:19:24.320 --> 00:19:24.600 it had 00:19:24.600 --> 00:19:25.300 escaped God's 00:19:25.300 --> 00:19:25.680 notice. 00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:27.600 It appeared 00:19:27.600 --> 00:19:27.960 as though 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.500 God was 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:28.920 doing 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.740 nothing, 00:19:30.260 --> 00:19:30.780 but he 00:19:30.780 --> 00:19:31.180 had seen 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:31.760 it all. 00:19:32.800 --> 00:19:33.140 For 00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:34.060 400 years 00:19:34.060 --> 00:19:34.480 it felt 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:35.060 like God 00:19:35.060 --> 00:19:35.320 was 00:19:35.320 --> 00:19:37.000 unconcerned 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:38.480 or unaware 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:38.980 of the 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.420 hardship 00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:39.819 that they 00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:40.420 faced. 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.680 But not 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.500 one bit 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:43.900 of their 00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:44.579 suffering 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:46.039 had gone 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:47.000 unnoticed 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.319 by God. 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.240 Not 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:51.120 one 00:19:51.120 --> 00:19:52.220 bit. 00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.220 And the 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:55.620 same is 00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:56.079 true 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:57.220 of you. 00:19:58.640 --> 00:19:59.160 Whatever 00:19:59.160 --> 00:19:59.860 you're facing 00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:00.279 at this 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:00.759 time, 00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:01.839 whatever 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.539 hardship 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.360 you're having 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:04.299 to endure, 00:20:05.659 --> 00:20:07.000 not one 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.119 bit of 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:08.299 your 00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:08.919 suffering 00:20:08.919 --> 00:20:10.319 goes 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.139 unnoticed 00:20:11.139 --> 00:20:12.639 by the 00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:13.039 Lord. 00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:17.459 But God 00:20:17.459 --> 00:20:18.279 sees more 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.579 than our 00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.019 suffering. 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.559 God 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:23.179 sees the 00:20:23.179 --> 00:20:23.679 attitudes 00:20:23.679 --> 00:20:24.399 of our 00:20:24.399 --> 00:20:25.259 hearts. 00:20:27.179 --> 00:20:27.419 Hagar 00:20:27.419 --> 00:20:28.279 has suffered 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.339 terribly 00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:30.199 at Sarah's 00:20:30.199 --> 00:20:30.699 hand, 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.700 heart. 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.500 But it 00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:32.720 didn't 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.559 excuse the 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.340 attitude of 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:34.819 Hagar's 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.200 heart. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:37.059 You 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:37.620 remember that 00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.220 once she 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.039 became pregnant 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:39.720 she began 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:41.400 to despise 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:42.340 her mistress. 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:44.640 Now look 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.220 at what God 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:45.880 says to her 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:46.299 in verse 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:46.759 9. 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:49.140 Go back 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:49.920 to your 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:50.519 mistress 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:52.080 and 00:20:52.080 --> 00:20:52.740 submit 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:54.720 to her. 00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:57.720 God 00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.259 had seen 00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:58.980 her suffering, 00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.019 suffering, 00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:00.940 but God 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.420 did not 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.279 remove her 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:02.779 suffering. 00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.420 In fact, 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:04.779 God 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.420 sends her 00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:05.920 back to 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:06.559 the place 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:06.920 of her 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:07.339 suffering. 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:08.960 Why? 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.039 Because 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:11.559 God is 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:12.079 dealing with 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.720 the attitude 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.799 of Hagar's 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.759 heart. 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:17.740 See, 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.539 sometimes, 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:20.059 not always, 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.759 but sometimes, 00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:23.799 God does 00:21:23.799 --> 00:21:24.660 not remove 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:25.500 your suffering 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:27.220 because he 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:27.740 is more 00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.519 concerned 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.700 with the 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.139 attitude 00:21:30.139 --> 00:21:31.400 of your 00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:31.819 heart. 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:34.960 Remember the 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.799 apostle Paul 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:36.559 three times 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.879 prayed for 00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.379 something that 00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:38.779 he simply 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.519 called the 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.279 thorn in 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.000 his flesh 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:42.059 to be 00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:42.759 removed from 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.039 him. 00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:44.940 But God 00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.440 said, 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:46.180 no. 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:47.819 Instead, 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.579 God promised 00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:49.019 that his 00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:50.039 grace would 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:50.839 be sufficient 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.619 for Paul. 00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:52.740 And Paul 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.759 recognized that 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.440 God had left 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:54.940 him with this 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.779 thorn in his 00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.759 flesh to 00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:57.559 protect him 00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.720 from pride. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:00.619 Now, 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:01.119 that must 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:01.640 have been a 00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:02.619 tendency that 00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:03.660 Paul had 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.180 come to 00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:05.000 recognize in 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.440 himself. 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:08.160 Paul knew 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:09.460 how easily 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.680 he could turn 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.539 his spiritual 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:13.200 experiences into 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:14.140 a reason to 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:14.799 boast and 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:15.500 become proud. 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:17.500 God 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:17.740 and he 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.700 recognized his 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:20.960 suffering as 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.740 God's 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.599 gracious 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:25.140 gift to 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:26.039 protect him 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.319 from this 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.180 tendency to 00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:29.980 sin that 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.339 could have 00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:31.079 destroyed his 00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:32.819 life and 00:22:32.819 --> 00:22:33.500 his ministry. 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:35.500 God 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:37.579 does indeed 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.140 see our 00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:38.799 suffering, 00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:40.660 but he 00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:41.599 sees more 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.039 than our 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:42.500 suffering. 00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.420 He also 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:45.039 sees the 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:45.779 attitudes of 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.319 our hearts. 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.180 And 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:49.240 sometimes he 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:50.039 delays 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.980 relieving us 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.400 of our 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:53.859 suffering so 00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.099 that he 00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:54.720 might address 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.180 the deeper 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:55.680 issues of 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.299 our hearts. 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.259 And in 00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:59.480 such circumstances 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:00.279 that is not 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.299 God's punishment 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:03.399 of you, but 00:23:03.399 --> 00:23:04.379 God's gracious 00:23:04.379 --> 00:23:06.519 gift to 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:06.960 you. 00:23:09.919 --> 00:23:11.139 This God 00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:11.759 who sees our 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:13.579 suffering and 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.539 our attitudes 00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:16.579 also sees 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.879 our fears. 00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:20.059 Hagar's 00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:21.099 position is a 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.879 desperate one. 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:23.379 She is a 00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:24.099 slave who has 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:24.659 run away from 00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:25.099 her mistress. 00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:26.619 She is a 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:28.279 woman alone 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:29.480 with no 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.980 rights, no 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:32.299 wealth, no 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:34.120 security, no 00:23:34.120 --> 00:23:34.620 future. 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:36.620 In this 00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:37.579 culture, your 00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:39.079 children were 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:39.660 your pension 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.059 plan. 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.380 They were 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:42.059 your only 00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:42.700 hope for 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.380 old age. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.360 And God 00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:46.360 assured Hagar 00:23:46.360 --> 00:23:47.299 that she 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.819 will have 00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:49.660 a son. 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.539 He will 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.279 make her 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.420 descendants too 00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.640 numerous to 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:54.960 count. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.779 God had 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.640 seen her 00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:58.579 and God 00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.559 would provide 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:00.660 for her. 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.579 God 00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:02.620 knows 00:24:02.620 --> 00:24:03.299 God 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:03.680 knows 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:03.880 your 00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:04.620 fears 00:24:04.620 --> 00:24:06.160 about the 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:06.599 future. 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.460 God 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:08.819 knows 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.079 about 00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:09.380 those 00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:09.759 things 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.000 that 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.660 intrude 00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.279 into your 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:11.720 sleeping 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.299 hours 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.259 and rob 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:13.779 you of 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.400 rest. 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.319 God 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.000 sees 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:18.019 all of 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.319 that 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:20.420 and he 00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:20.819 can be 00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:21.319 trusted 00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.920 with all 00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:23.360 of that. 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.120 His 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:25.880 answers are 00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:26.740 not always 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.579 what we'd 00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.019 imagined. 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:29.019 love 00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:30.019 and he 00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:30.619 would 00:24:30.619 --> 00:24:32.220 be a 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:32.720 wild 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:33.319 donkey 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:33.619 of a 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:34.000 man 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:35.339 doesn't 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:35.839 sound like 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.420 anyone's 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:36.819 dream of 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.240 motherhood 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:37.779 does it? 00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:39.940 But he 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.779 would provide 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:42.039 security for 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.740 her nonetheless. 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:44.539 God 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.180 has seen 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:45.940 her vulnerable 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:46.619 position, 00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:47.779 he knew 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.559 her fears 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.899 and he 00:24:49.899 --> 00:24:50.599 reassures 00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.119 her that 00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:52.259 he is 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:52.440 in 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:52.960 control 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:54.119 of it 00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:54.480 all. 00:24:56.159 --> 00:24:57.000 Her 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.720 response is 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.539 quite wonderful 00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.019 in verse 00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.779 13 isn't 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.000 it? 00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:01.519 She says 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:03.079 you are 00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:03.799 the God 00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:05.079 who sees 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:05.900 me. 00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.740 I 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.599 have seen 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:09.139 the one 00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:10.259 who sees 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:10.859 me. 00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:12.359 How 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:12.779 wonderful 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.400 is that? 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:14.799 After 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.160 all, 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.059 who is 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:16.420 Hagar? 00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:18.700 She's 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:18.879 certainly 00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:19.200 not the 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:19.420 main 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:19.900 character 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:20.220 in the 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:20.619 story. 00:25:21.879 --> 00:25:22.160 She's 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:22.519 not going 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:22.740 to be 00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.139 the mother 00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:23.519 of the 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:23.759 son 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.139 that God 00:25:24.139 --> 00:25:24.299 had 00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:24.639 promised 00:25:24.639 --> 00:25:25.299 Abram. 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:26.559 If you 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:26.799 like, 00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.079 she's 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:27.940 only a 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.519 supporting 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.680 actress, 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.319 not part 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:30.599 of the 00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:30.799 main 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.379 cast. 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:33.639 But 00:25:33.639 --> 00:25:34.299 God 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.019 had 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.599 seen 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.660 her. 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:39.339 Do you 00:25:39.339 --> 00:25:39.599 feel that 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:39.859 way at 00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.319 times? 00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:41.879 Who 00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:43.220 am I? 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.279 Why 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:45.579 would 00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:45.960 God 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.200 be 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.819 concerned 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.279 about 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:48.200 me? 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:50.339 I'm 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:50.500 not 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:50.759 someone 00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.240 important. 00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:53.139 I'm 00:25:53.139 --> 00:25:53.480 not going 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.019 to do 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.460 anything 00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:54.920 important. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:56.460 I'm 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:56.779 nothing 00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.539 special. 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.079 Well, 00:26:00.139 --> 00:26:00.720 this God 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.400 who sees 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.300 everything 00:26:02.300 --> 00:26:04.160 sees 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:05.320 you. 00:26:06.600 --> 00:26:07.120 He 00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:07.780 sees 00:26:07.780 --> 00:26:08.500 your 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.060 suffering. 00:26:10.320 --> 00:26:10.580 He 00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:11.259 sees 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:12.019 your 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:12.640 attitudes. 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.180 He 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:15.000 sees 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.680 your 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.340 fears. 00:26:17.340 --> 00:26:17.780 He 00:26:17.780 --> 00:26:19.140 sees 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:20.400 you. 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:23.019 Is it 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:23.500 any wonder 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:24.060 that Hagar 00:26:24.060 --> 00:26:25.060 responds as 00:26:25.060 --> 00:26:25.680 she does? 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.299 God 00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:26.680 sees her. 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:28.259 But not 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:28.700 only does 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.299 this God 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.200 see her, 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.880 she has 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:32.680 seen the 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:33.720 God who 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.380 sees her. 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.660 God has 00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:36.400 made himself 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.640 known to 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.060 her. 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.259 And we 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.880 too can 00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:42.360 know this 00:26:42.360 --> 00:26:43.720 God who 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.400 knows us. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.340 How 00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:46.279 incredible is 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:46.600 that? 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:47.599 God 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:47.980 this 00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.559 same 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.619 God who 00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:50.259 sent his 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.059 angel to 00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:51.359 find 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.079 Hagar 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:54.319 would send 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:55.399 his own 00:26:55.399 --> 00:26:56.740 son into 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.399 the world 00:26:57.399 --> 00:26:58.919 so that 00:26:58.919 --> 00:26:59.519 he could 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:00.399 make himself 00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:01.219 known, 00:27:01.719 --> 00:27:02.279 so that 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:02.959 we could 00:27:02.959 --> 00:27:03.599 see the 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:04.559 God who 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.079 sees 00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:06.039 us. 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.059 In fact, 00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:08.639 we have a 00:27:08.639 --> 00:27:09.500 far clearer 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.000 view of 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.059 God than 00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:11.659 Hagar 00:27:11.659 --> 00:27:12.859 ever did. 00:27:12.859 --> 00:27:15.159 just as 00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:15.679 God 00:27:15.679 --> 00:27:16.379 sought 00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:16.679 for 00:27:16.679 --> 00:27:17.299 Hagar, 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:18.719 Jesus 00:27:18.719 --> 00:27:19.519 came into 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.099 this world 00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.799 to seek 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.299 and to 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.740 save 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:23.039 the lost. 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:25.500 God 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.019 did not 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.399 stay 00:27:26.399 --> 00:27:27.199 distant 00:27:27.199 --> 00:27:27.719 from our 00:27:27.719 --> 00:27:28.179 suffering, 00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:29.159 but in 00:27:29.159 --> 00:27:29.839 his son 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.559 entered 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.479 into our 00:27:31.479 --> 00:27:32.279 world 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:33.359 of suffering. 00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:34.799 God 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.259 not only 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:35.740 saw the 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.179 danger 00:27:36.179 --> 00:27:36.539 that we 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.059 were in, 00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:37.759 under 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.019 his 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.299 judgment 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:38.859 for our 00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:39.419 sins, 00:27:40.139 --> 00:27:40.919 he sent 00:27:40.919 --> 00:27:41.679 his son 00:27:41.679 --> 00:27:42.699 to rescue 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.100 us from 00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:43.600 the death 00:27:43.600 --> 00:27:43.880 that we 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:44.559 deserve 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.519 by his 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.039 death on 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.640 the cross. 00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:49.360 Now, 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.319 if God 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:50.880 has done 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:51.660 all of 00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:52.299 that for 00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:52.900 us, 00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:56.000 do you 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:56.440 think that 00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:56.960 he doesn't 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:59.080 see what 00:27:59.080 --> 00:27:59.299 you are 00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:00.080 going through 00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:01.539 right now? 00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.319 That he 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:04.160 doesn't 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:04.940 care? 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.200 It may 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:08.980 appear as 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.600 though God 00:28:09.600 --> 00:28:10.200 is doing 00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.680 nothing, 00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:12.759 but 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.200 Hagar 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.680 has 00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:14.160 learned 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.519 what 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.080 Abram 00:28:15.080 --> 00:28:15.320 and 00:28:15.320 --> 00:28:15.759 Sarai 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:15.980 had 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.500 forgotten. 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.640 The 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:19.120 one we 00:28:19.120 --> 00:28:19.680 worship 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:21.200 is the 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:21.740 God 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.460 who 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.220 sees 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.440 me. 00:28:25.880 --> 00:28:26.560 Let's 00:28:26.560 --> 00:28:26.840 pray 00:28:26.840 --> 00:28:27.519 together. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:37.859 Father, 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.319 even as 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:38.639 we 00:28:38.639 --> 00:28:39.839 reflect on 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.039 these 00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.420 words, 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:40.759 we 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.940 have to 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.559 respond as 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:43.220 David did 00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:43.980 that such 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.799 thoughts are 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.859 too wonderful 00:28:45.859 --> 00:28:46.500 for me. 00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:48.039 To think 00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:49.639 that you 00:28:49.639 --> 00:28:51.660 see and 00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:52.099 know 00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:53.299 me. 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:55.700 to think 00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.000 that the 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.240 God who 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:57.940 created the 00:28:57.940 --> 00:28:58.339 whole of 00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:58.960 the universe 00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.819 and sustains 00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.399 it by his 00:29:00.399 --> 00:29:01.519 powerful words 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.659 at the 00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:03.419 same time 00:29:03.419 --> 00:29:05.559 is concerned 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:07.639 about me. 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.319 Oh, how 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:10.899 humbling 00:29:10.899 --> 00:29:12.480 a thought 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:15.039 and how 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:15.879 overwhelming 00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:17.799 to think of 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.440 the love 00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:20.039 the heavenly 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:20.960 father has 00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.400 for his 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:21.819 children. 00:29:23.860 --> 00:29:24.600 Father, we 00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.759 know that 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.819 at different 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:28.680 times your 00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.160 people are 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:29.720 called to 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.539 endure all 00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:31.120 kinds of 00:29:31.120 --> 00:29:32.480 hardship and 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:32.880 suffering. 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:34.860 Father, may 00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:36.600 we never be 00:29:36.600 --> 00:29:37.220 those who 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:37.920 start to 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.360 think that 00:29:38.360 --> 00:29:39.000 somehow you 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.340 do not 00:29:39.340 --> 00:29:40.700 see or 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.000 you do 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:41.640 not care. 00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:43.340 But rather 00:29:43.340 --> 00:29:43.980 as we look 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.360 to the 00:29:44.360 --> 00:29:44.880 fact that 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.579 you gave 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.259 your own 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:47.120 son for 00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:47.559 us, 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:50.120 may that 00:29:50.120 --> 00:29:50.740 assure us 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.160 of your 00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:51.900 unchanging 00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:52.660 love towards 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.240 your children 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:55.319 and that 00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:56.099 even in 00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:56.839 our suffering 00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:58.779 your purposes 00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.579 are for 00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:00.960 our good. 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.299 Father, we 00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:03.940 thank you that 00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:04.440 you are not 00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:04.920 only the 00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.500 God who 00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:06.259 sees me 00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:07.480 but that 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:07.920 we can 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:09.180 see the 00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:10.279 God who 00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:10.940 sees us. 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.299 Thank you 00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:12.960 that in the 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:13.559 Lord Jesus 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.319 you made 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.299 yourself fully 00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.819 known that 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.240 when we 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:17.740 look to 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.299 him we 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.079 see the 00:30:19.079 --> 00:30:19.740 invisible 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:20.779 God. 00:30:22.199 --> 00:30:22.579 And 00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:22.960 Father, we 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.699 pray then that 00:30:23.699 --> 00:30:23.980 you might 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.699 draw out our 00:30:24.699 --> 00:30:25.379 hearts both 00:30:25.379 --> 00:30:26.159 in love for 00:30:26.159 --> 00:30:27.899 you and 00:30:27.899 --> 00:30:28.639 in confidence 00:30:28.639 --> 00:30:29.439 in you. 00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:30.960 And we 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:31.539 ask this in 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:32.759 the name of 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.179 the Lord 00:30:33.179 --> 00:30:33.559 Jesus. 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:35.359 Amen. 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:51.960 in response 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.879 to what we 00:30:52.879 --> 00:30:53.819 have heard 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:54.379 together 00:30:54.379 --> 00:30:55.519 we're going 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.079 to sing 00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:58.099 when I 00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:58.919 fear my 00:30:58.919 --> 00:31:00.159 faith will 00:31:00.159 --> 00:31:00.679 fail 00:31:00.679 --> 00:31:01.359 Christ 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:02.759 will hold 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.379 me fast. 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:03.879 It's an 00:31:03.879 --> 00:31:04.720 invitation to 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.119 come and 00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:05.619 see the 00:31:05.619 --> 00:31:06.159 God who 00:31:06.159 --> 00:31:07.659 is faithful 00:31:07.659 --> 00:31:09.359 towards us 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:10.000 who sees 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.379 us and 00:31:10.379 --> 00:31:10.799 knows our 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:11.159 need 00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:12.279 and is 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:12.679 faithful. 00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:13.099 Let's 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:13.799 stand together 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.659 as we 00:31:14.659 --> 00:31:15.059 sing in 00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:15.659 response.