KingdomView, Vol. III, Issue 9
Genesis 21: 9-21
The Bible reveals that it is in the nature and character of God to preserve His people, especially during times of trouble. He saved the lives of eight souls in the ark--Noah and his family--after he had preached for 120 years to the people of his day and they rejected his message and perished (Genesis 6-7; 1 Peter 3:18-20). God preserved Joseph in the midst of unjust acts perpetrated against him by his brothers (Genesis 37:18-28); and then he was falsely accused of rape and sent to prison (Genesis 39:6-20). God delivered him from prison and elevated him to vizier, serving second to pharaoh of Egypt (Genesis 41:38-46). According to Joseph, all of this happened in the providence of God that he might preserve alive Jacob and his household, so that God would fulfill His promise to Abraham (Genesis 45:5-7; Genesis 12:1-3).
Finally, the Bible declares that God will preserve the saints by shielding them from experiencing the Great Tribulation during the end-times (Revelation 3:10). Thus, in the midst of your situation, you might be wondering if God is going to preserve you in the middle of dwindling financial resources, scarce employment opportunities, and a plethora of other 21st Century challenges. Well, God has promised never to leave nor forsake you (Hebrew 13:5)! Our foundational text tells the story of how God preserved Hagar and her son Ishmael in the hour of their greatest need. I’d like to share with you four principles that demonstrate God’s motives for preserving His people in the midst of tough times.
1. God’s preservation of His people is sometimes motivated by a divine promise, Genesis 16:7-16.
2. God’s preservation of His people is sometimes motivated by His faithfulness, Genesis 21:11-13.
3. God’s preservation of His people is sometimes motivated by His great compassion, Genesis 21:17, and
4. God’s preservation of His people is sometimes motivated by His willingness to engage through divine intervention, Genesis 21:18-21.
In Genesis chapter 16, Hagar runs away from her mistress (Sarai, Abraham’s wife) after being treated harshly. The angel of the Lord directs her to return and submit to her mistress’s authority. Likewise, he promises her that He would multiply her seed (Ishmael’s offspring). In Chapter 21, about 17-years later, Hagar and her son Ishmael are driven from Abraham’s household and they wander in the desert. After consuming all of their water supply, they weep and prepare to die. Hagar had forgotten about the promise made to her 17-years earlier; she was too busy sobbing over her circumstances. Just when she was about to lose hope, the angel of the Lord directed her to stand and he showed her a well just a few feet away.
You see, God never forgets a promise (Genesis 25:12-18); just trust Him!
