LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON NOTES
Read Peter's preaching notes....
“Don’t Rush God”
Genesis 16:1-10
7/4/21
God has big plans: wants to include us in making happen: don’t always do very well
1. He calls us, but we do nothing, or lag far behind and delay
don’t think we’re able, don’t know what God wants, afraid, lazy, different priorities
2. We participate, but go in different direction
usually because following our idea of God’s plan, not the actual plan
3. Run ahead of God: rush into action because not acting as quickly as want him to
some things take time, like my father-in-laws cinnamon rolls (actually, Wal-mart)
usually in hurry to get them to thaw: float in bath of hot water
last weekend let sit out overnight to thaw & rise, much better
Same for Sarai: knew perfectly well what the plan was
Abr shared triple promise w/ her: joined him in command to leave home to new land
but it was taking too long! had been ten years ago
think of where you were, what you were doing ten yrs ago in 2011?
here at OU, Abena & Charlene K joined church, 2nd mission trip (Joplin MO)
Abr 75, Sar 65 when promise had been made: 10 yrs later now 85 & 75
if sr citizen & expecting baby, time is of the essence!
understandable that Sar was getting impatient
decided to take matters into her own hands
Idea: birth by proxy: use of surrogate mother
young healthy servant girl Hagar from Egypt: certain she was fertile
she can get PG, “I can build a family through her”
what Sar proposed was customary & acceptable at time
child born to wife’s servant considered to be wife’s child
maybe how culture at time worked, but not how God works
can’t God’s promised blessing to another person: swap & trade like baseball cards
has promise & blessing for each person
Did not view Hagar as her own person: simply extension of herself
use her to do what she wanted: as if she (Sar) doing it herself
suggested to Abr that he sleep w/ Hagar: if child, as though was her own
Abr agreed: seems just as unreflective as Adam in garden
just do what suggested w/out thinking, considering for self
bears his own responsibility for going along w. Sar’s suggestion & scheme
notice: no one ever asked Hagar what she thought of the idea
Hagar had no power over her own body
“When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.”
1. angry at Sar for what she had done to her: didn’t want to be PG
Sar had crossed line for her: can any of us blame her?
2. became “uppity” in truest sense of word
accusation often against blacks in south
when tried to improve selves, claim some human rights of their own
learn to read, get education, dress well, have decent homes
Hagar asserted herself: no longer accepting inferior status
Iatrogenesis: medical term: unintended, unpredicted injury/illness as result of care
put simply, unexpected consequences
not sure exactly what Sar had in mind when suggested this scheme
now watching it blow up in her face
because Hagar actually a real person: not just tool for her to use
Generally why good reason to follow God’s plan
because already in future, knows consequences of present action
what seems like good idea at time turns out to be disaster
we often can’t recognize it as such: God always does
good thing about God, however: always able to work things toward his plan
Ro 8:28: “In all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.”
Sar refuses to accept responsibility: blames Abr
“You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering:” but it was all Sar’s idea!
Abr fails to intervene for Hagar, that she be treated justly: just wanted to keep peace
did so at Hagar’s expense, but also at expense of his own child
told Sar “do whatever you want”
Sar so jealous of Hagar, or so angered by Hagar’s newfound sense of self-worth,
began to abuse her
Hagar took natural step: ran away
Then the Lord intervened w/ grace for Hagar
woman whom Sar had abused in more than one way
woman treated as object by both Sar & Abr
Lord knew her as precious, beloved child
came to her when everyone else was abandoning
two messages:
1. return to Sar: hardly good news for Hagar! back to where abused
but w/ different sense: now part of God’s plan, not senseless oppression
unlike Sar, willing to accept the not-so-good of the present
because trust God’s promise for excellent future
2. promise of her own: mirror to Abr: your descendants will become great nation
more numerous than can count: like dust & stars
however, God’s promise to Abr would not be fulfilled through her child
that would only come through child w/ Sar
nonetheless, nation of her own: trad, Muslims trace their faith back through Ishmael
At times may feel like Sar: need patience & wisdom to move along w/ God’s plan
at times like Hagar: trust that when goes off rails, will intervene
Genesis 16:1-10
7/4/21
God has big plans: wants to include us in making happen: don’t always do very well
1. He calls us, but we do nothing, or lag far behind and delay
don’t think we’re able, don’t know what God wants, afraid, lazy, different priorities
2. We participate, but go in different direction
usually because following our idea of God’s plan, not the actual plan
3. Run ahead of God: rush into action because not acting as quickly as want him to
some things take time, like my father-in-laws cinnamon rolls (actually, Wal-mart)
usually in hurry to get them to thaw: float in bath of hot water
last weekend let sit out overnight to thaw & rise, much better
Same for Sarai: knew perfectly well what the plan was
Abr shared triple promise w/ her: joined him in command to leave home to new land
but it was taking too long! had been ten years ago
think of where you were, what you were doing ten yrs ago in 2011?
here at OU, Abena & Charlene K joined church, 2nd mission trip (Joplin MO)
Abr 75, Sar 65 when promise had been made: 10 yrs later now 85 & 75
if sr citizen & expecting baby, time is of the essence!
understandable that Sar was getting impatient
decided to take matters into her own hands
Idea: birth by proxy: use of surrogate mother
young healthy servant girl Hagar from Egypt: certain she was fertile
she can get PG, “I can build a family through her”
what Sar proposed was customary & acceptable at time
child born to wife’s servant considered to be wife’s child
maybe how culture at time worked, but not how God works
can’t God’s promised blessing to another person: swap & trade like baseball cards
has promise & blessing for each person
Did not view Hagar as her own person: simply extension of herself
use her to do what she wanted: as if she (Sar) doing it herself
suggested to Abr that he sleep w/ Hagar: if child, as though was her own
Abr agreed: seems just as unreflective as Adam in garden
just do what suggested w/out thinking, considering for self
bears his own responsibility for going along w. Sar’s suggestion & scheme
notice: no one ever asked Hagar what she thought of the idea
Hagar had no power over her own body
“When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.”
1. angry at Sar for what she had done to her: didn’t want to be PG
Sar had crossed line for her: can any of us blame her?
2. became “uppity” in truest sense of word
accusation often against blacks in south
when tried to improve selves, claim some human rights of their own
learn to read, get education, dress well, have decent homes
Hagar asserted herself: no longer accepting inferior status
Iatrogenesis: medical term: unintended, unpredicted injury/illness as result of care
put simply, unexpected consequences
not sure exactly what Sar had in mind when suggested this scheme
now watching it blow up in her face
because Hagar actually a real person: not just tool for her to use
Generally why good reason to follow God’s plan
because already in future, knows consequences of present action
what seems like good idea at time turns out to be disaster
we often can’t recognize it as such: God always does
good thing about God, however: always able to work things toward his plan
Ro 8:28: “In all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.”
Sar refuses to accept responsibility: blames Abr
“You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering:” but it was all Sar’s idea!
Abr fails to intervene for Hagar, that she be treated justly: just wanted to keep peace
did so at Hagar’s expense, but also at expense of his own child
told Sar “do whatever you want”
Sar so jealous of Hagar, or so angered by Hagar’s newfound sense of self-worth,
began to abuse her
Hagar took natural step: ran away
Then the Lord intervened w/ grace for Hagar
woman whom Sar had abused in more than one way
woman treated as object by both Sar & Abr
Lord knew her as precious, beloved child
came to her when everyone else was abandoning
two messages:
1. return to Sar: hardly good news for Hagar! back to where abused
but w/ different sense: now part of God’s plan, not senseless oppression
unlike Sar, willing to accept the not-so-good of the present
because trust God’s promise for excellent future
2. promise of her own: mirror to Abr: your descendants will become great nation
more numerous than can count: like dust & stars
however, God’s promise to Abr would not be fulfilled through her child
that would only come through child w/ Sar
nonetheless, nation of her own: trad, Muslims trace their faith back through Ishmael
At times may feel like Sar: need patience & wisdom to move along w/ God’s plan
at times like Hagar: trust that when goes off rails, will intervene
Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com