Who Wants to be Free?
Good Morning Friends,
This morning in the text from Genesis we have the story of the expulsion of Hagar, the Egyptian slave woman who had given birth to Abraham’s first son Ishmael. The story has drama because Sarah became pregnant and she gave birth to a son, and Abraham named him Isaac. Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 years old when he was born. God’s covenant with Abraham was being fulfilled. Understandably Sarah and Hagar did not get along for the obvious reasons. Unfortunately, Hagar doubted that God would keep the promise made to her in the desert and protect and watch over them (See Genesis 16). Much like the disciples in the storm Hagar doubted. But then things got worse for Hagar, her doubt moved to despair. And in her despair, she had given up on God. Then God, keeping the promise made to Hagar, opened her eyes to the destiny for Ishmael and herself. And friends, let’s face it, we have the same opportunity and challenge today. Our culture brings objections against Christianity. It is popular to object to Christianity because sometimes the truth of Christianity is painful…sometimes it is scary…sometimes it is unpleasant. It requires us to change. It requires us to give our best to God. It requires our faith in a destiny. Unfortunately, some people claim, “that it may be true for you but it is not true for me,” and then rejecting the truth, some come to the crazy conclusion….Who Wants to be Free?
Scripture: Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.” The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow.
Genesis 21:5, 8-20a (NRSV)
When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. The demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go!” So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.
Matthew 8:28-34 (NRSV)
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:7 (NRSV)
Message: Today we have already looked at the story of Hagar in the book of Genesis. Now let us reflect on it considering a passage from Matthew about two demon possessed men. Jesus had just done a great deal of emotional and spiritual work and seemed to want to get away with His disciples perhaps to do some teaching. He had calmed the storm on the boat ride to a place called the Gergesenes. When they landed two men came to meet Him. They were possessed by demons. Interestingly it was the demons that recognized Jesus and begged Him for mercy. Apparently, the demons knew that Jesus would cast them out of the men. We see the complexity of the situation in today’s story from Matthew that shows forth the problem when the demon of despair grips us. We also see the simple solution. We see how the love of money and income and position gets in the way of our experiencing Jesus. We see the fascination with death and demons and the desire for power, bound by evil. We see how Jesus trumps everything. Friends, choices still have consequences. There is right and wrong and we need to do the next right thing. But if we petition the Lord to provide us what we need, most of us have no need to enter the doorway for the depressed. Real freedom is found in Jesus. We are to invite Him to join us in the fight. We are to find the truth by holding to His teachings and obeying them. When we choose Jesus, He is the truth and the promise of life abundant.
Pray that we reject the myths that make us miserable, but pray we not give up on God. Pray that we commit to seek the truth. Pray that we commit to live the truth. Pray that we commit to believe the truth. Pray that we experience the uncommon freedom of grace. Pray that we realize that Jesus is in charge no matter what people believe. Pray that we realize He has authority over everything and will meet us wherever we are. Pray that we give our lives to the one who gave His life to us. Pray that we are never content to just hear the word. Pray that we see His word manifested. Pray we realize that despite doubts and even moments of depression we each have a destiny as Christians. Pray that we give God the best, because when we do His grace abounds and we become free indeed.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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