{"id":1005,"date":"2021-05-31T15:52:26","date_gmt":"2021-05-31T15:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/curwensvillealliance.org\/podcasts\/?p=1005"},"modified":"2021-05-31T15:52:26","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T15:52:26","slug":"hagar-ishmael-bible-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.curwensvillealliance.org\/podcasts\/?p=1005","title":{"rendered":"Hagar & Ishmael :: BIBLE STORIES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 5\/30\/21 by Pastor Steve Shields.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

When we hear the story of Hagar and Ishmael, we personally connect with different characters.<\/strong> Many identify with Sarai, but this isn’t a story about infertility.<\/strong> Many identify with Abram, but this isn’t a story about fathering a child. <\/strong> Many identify with Hagar, but this isn’t a story about slavery. <\/strong> Many identify this as a story of trust, but it is not a story about faith. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So what is the point of this story? This is a story of the love of God! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God gives Hagar and Ismael a lit of ink!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God shows up when Hagar is on the run.<\/strong> God gives her the confidence she needs to go back. God hears her misery with her situation, and He assures her that her son will be a fighter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

God promises that Ishmael will be okay <\/strong>even though Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away with meager provisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hagar loses hope as the provisions are gone, and she cannot bear to watch her son die. But God hears her cries, and He responds!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story of Hagar and Ishmael brings hope to us all. <\/strong> How? It means God loves us. <\/strong> It gives us hope that we can choose to love.<\/strong> God wants us to love as He loves. <\/strong> That means to show love to people who are outsiders, love people who are difficult, and want to provide for people who have a genuine need, whether they deserve it or not. <\/p>\n