Hopeless Situations

Genesis 17:8-21

8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham
made a great feast the same day that Isaac was
weaned.
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which
she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this
bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman
shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's
sight because of his son.
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous
in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy
bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee,
hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed
be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make
a nation, because he is thy seed.
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and
took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto
Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child,
and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered
in the wilderness of Beer–sheba.
15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she
cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him
a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said,
Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat
over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel
of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto
her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath
heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine
hand; for I will make him a great nation.
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of
water; and she went, and filled the bottle with
water, and gave the lad drink.
20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt
in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his
mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

Hagar and Ishmael had been abandoned and forced to fend for themselves. Abraham, at the insistence of his wife, reluctantly sent his Egyptian servant, the mother of Ishmael, away with little more than a canteen of water and some bread. It wasn't long before Hagar came to the end of her rope. Alone and without food or water, she lost hope. Convinced that Ishmael was going to die, she began to weep. But when God heard her cries and Ishmael's voice, He sent an angel to comfort Hagar and then to discover a nearby source of water.

Abraham was worried sick about his son Ishmael, but he was severely limited in what he could do. God, however was under no such limitation. As He still does for us to this day, He reached into a hopeless situation and offered comfort and provision. God didn't forget Hagar and Ishmael. And He'll never forget us, His chosen people, when we're in a place where we're in short supply of hope and comfort...

Philippians 4:19

19 But my God shall supply all your need according
to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Feeling short on hope today? Don't be afraid to cry out to the God who promises to meet all your needs.

All praises, glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ forever and ever.

Reference: 365 Essential Questions From The Bible, p.8,
www.barbourbooks.com

The Grim Reaper Preacher says, "Try reading the Bible from cover to cover - you'll like it."