Title: Meeting God in the Wilderness
Contents
God I met in the wilderness (Genesis 21:8-21)
They say that life is the unknown, and that seems to be what they are talking about. This hat, who enjoyed all the blessings in the house of Abraham, the father of faith, was driven out into the wilderness in one day. Abraham is a great refusal. He could have given his son and wife a lot of fortune. Because they are Abraham's wife and children. He must not give up his wife and children because he does not know how to do it, even if God's will is so. Nevertheless, Hagar and Ishmael gave only bread and a skin bag of water. It's bleak how long I'll live with this.
(Of course, God's will is contained in this, but the person concerned does not know it.)
In the wilderness, where there was no water and food, those who faced death began to weep. At this time, God rescued them from the crisis and began the work of pioneering to form a great nation through this Son.
When you put this mother and child in front of you and ask the question, "Why did they live that way?", no one can answer. But here we see the invisible hand of God intervening and moving their lives. As they wandered through the wilderness without a purpose, God set a clear purpose and guided them. In a word, we can see that the answer to the life of two mothers and children is God Himself.
The same is true in our lives. For us living in this world like the wilderness, God is the answer to all our questions and the interpretation of our life itself. Therefore, it is very important for us to know who God is. The more you get to know Him, the clearer your understanding of life becomes.
Then, we need to think about who God is with this text.
First, God is the One who allows us to experience the fact that He is always with us in the wilderness of life.
Hagar cried and cried in the extreme situation that her son might die. Hagar doesn't know much about God, but in this difficult situation, all she could do was pray. He lived in Abraham's house of good faith for several decades and participated in Abraham's frequent prayers and worship services. She would have called "the God of Abraham" as she wept. When Hagar was crying loudly, God heard the child's voice and answered, "Hagar, what is going on? Do not be afraid?" (verse 17). Only then did I experience that "God is here too" .
Up until now, she had known God through Abraham and thought to be the God of Abraham. Then she meets God directly.
Knowing God while living our life of faith means knowing God through the pastor and experiencing God through the testimony of the deacon.
When we face such a crisis in our lives, we unwittingly call out, “God!”. It may be right for us to simply pray to God rather than call in faith. But because God is with us, we receive God's answers. Because he is with him, he moves us to call him. When we call on God, God is ready to answer our cry. The place where you bow down is where God meets you, and the place where you fall down is where you meet God.
*Judges 15:18 - When Samson was exhausted after defeating the Philistines (Enhak Whale)
*2 Kings 4:1- The wife of the prophetess to Elisha (the miracle of the oil bottle)
*Psalm 22:5 - They cried to you and were saved; they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
While Hagar was at Abraham's house, he never met God, but he met him twice when he was driven out into the wilderness (Gen. 16:7ff.).
We do not seek God when we are prosperous, but when we are in trouble like the wilderness, we unknowingly say, "Lord!" and you will find it. The Lord is ready to answer. Because God has never left me.
Second, God is the one who keeps reminding us of His promises in the wilderness of life.
God, who called Hagar, said, "Get up, raise the child and hold her in your hand, for she has made a great nation" (verse 18). These words were already promised in Genesis 16:10 when Hagar wandered in the wilderness 16 years ago. Hagar had forgotten this promise of God and reminded her of despair. We also forget God's promises when we face difficult times in life, but God helps us and reminds us of God's Word.
(Exodus 2:23-25) After many years the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel groaned and cried because of their torment; and a cry came up to God because of their torment. He remembered the covenant he made, and he counseled the children of Israel.
God's promises are faithful. The promise made to Hagar fulfilled the Arab nation today. With this faithfulness, 66 books of the Bible are promised to us today. He reminds us of the promises that are essential to each of us when we are wandering in the wilderness road of life.
(Psalm 119:49-50) Remember your words to your servant, for you have given me hope. These are my comfort in my troubles, for your word has made me alive.
Third, God is the One who opens our eyes in the wilderness of life so that we can find springs of water.
Hagar finally had the eyes of faith to believe the promise. He looked with these eyes, and a spring of water was right next to him. God allows God's children to see the spring of water only when they have the eyes of faith. If you make a mistake when faced with difficulties, it is easy to become a person of the senses who rely on the eyes of the flesh. There is a fountain of problem solving right next to me, but I can't see it. But God is merciful, first to awaken faith in us, and then to open our eyes to see a well of water.
(Psalm 114:8) He has turned rocks into pools, and stones into springs of water.
Comparing us to this mother and child, they are the outcasts who were not chosen, but we are the children of God who have been chosen. You are a child of God who has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and sealed with the Holy Spirit, who will never leave you and lead you throughout your life. If you have guided the outcasts with such sincerity, the chosen ones will lead you more reliably. This person accompanies us through the harsh wilderness of life today. In this conviction, you should not be discouraged day by day and move forward one step at a time toward the Lord of hope.