“God is with Us” 

Krista’s Reflection “God is with Us” 

Based on Genesis 21:8-21 God takes care of Hagar and Ishmael 4rth Sunday after Pentecost 

June 25, 2023 

Introduction to the Scriptures  

Today we hear about Abraham again – the father of all nations – one of the big heroes of faith, like Adam, and Noah.  

Last week we heard how Abraham was very old, but God promised  him a son.  

This week we hear how Abraham had a son with his wife’s  handmaiden, Hagar, and called him Ishmael.  

And Sarah also has the much-promised son Isaac, but she turns  Hagar and her son out of the house because she was jealous.  Abraham tries to secure them with food and water and sends them  on their way.  

But they run out of food and water. Hungry and alone, Hagar cries  out to God for help. Let’s see what happens next…

Sermon  

God is good. Do you agree?  

God is not only good to the “good” or “chosen” people (that we  judge as good or chosen).  

God is good to all people.  

God is with us in the good times and the bad.  

God is with you. God is with me. God is with everyone. 

Bad News in the Bible  

Sometimes we may wonder if God is good. It’s OK to wonder. It’s  OK to question God. Our heroes today do just that. But they are not the  usual heroes like Abraham and Sarah. Today they are the outcasts,  Hagar, and her son Ishmael… 

Ishmael is NOT the “chosen” son. Abraham had him with Hagar to  try to outsmart God because he was impatient and didn’t believe his wife  Sarah could have a child. But she did, at the age of 90!. And Isaac  became the favoured one. They were blessed indeed, and God was good.  God was with them in their joy. 

But what about Hagar and Ishmael?  

Was God with them? 

Sarah got jealous and kicks Hagar and Ishmael out. Now what?  Hagar and Ishmael are like refugees hiding out in the desert places,  thirsty and hungry. Hagar places her son under a tree and prays that God  not let her hear his cries as he is bound to die.  

How could God do this? How could God allow Ishmael to be left  to die? Where is his birthright as the first son? Where is God with the  outcast? Like women and children fleeing from harm? Does God hear  their cries?  

Bad News in Our World  

We may see similar treatment of people in our world today. In the  war between Russia and Ukraine – innocent families are torn apart,  children displaced from their homes, many never to see their families  again. Women and children have no guarantee of safety.  

Lives are destroyed in vast numbers – no matter which side they  are on. 

Does God pick sides? Is God either for us or against us?  What about those who had no say in the matter? What about them?  We may wonder when will God come and reign down upon us and save us from such atrocities. When will justice come and protect the  innocent? 

June is National Indigenous History month. We may think of the  indigenous children at residential schools – the unmarked graves  discovered only 2 years ago this summer. Many were lost to sickness,  gross neglect, and physical, mental, and emotional harm. Many were  separated from their families and siblings against their will. Some never  returned home. Many today who survived, and their families are still  seeking justice. When will justice come?  

When will God hear their cries? When will God restore and heal  those broken and alone, those left to fend for themselves? How does God show up for the immigrant, the migrant, the  refugee. Where is God in the tragedies we see in our world? When a Manitoba bus crashes killing 15 seniors, or those who lose their homes  in the fires, or their lives in the tornadoes in the states. 

Where is God then? 

Good News in the Bible  

It may seem simplistic to say God is with us, even when bad things  happen, especially to the most vulnerable in our world. It may seem trite  or wrong to always say, “God must have a purpose for this.”  

It may seem disrespectful to those who suffer and die or lose ones  to tragedy.  

This is the big question many of us have: Why do bad things  happen to good people? Or why does God allow suffering in the world? It’s called in theological circles, does anybody know? BLANK  STARES.  

THEODICY. I’ll get back to that in a minute.  

Let us give God a chance and finish the story.

Hagar just ran out of food and water. Things were not looking  good. In fear, she tucked the boy in under some bushes and sat away  from him. She did not want to watch him die.  

The boy cried.  

And Hagar wept and held her hands up to God.  

But God heard the boy.  

And an angel of the LORD heard Hagar and responded 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.” 

Hagar did as she was told. She lifted him up, and just then, her  eyes were opened.  

She saw a well of water, and she filled the skin with water.  The boy drank.  

And they lived in the wilderness. And the boy grew. And Hagar  found him a wife. And he had many descendants because God was with  him, just as God promised. 

Good News in Our World  

It is true that sometimes bad things happen, and there is no rescue,  or it comes too late.  

Sometimes bad things do happen to good people.  

That is the mystery of “theodicy.”  

The mystery of God’s presence in our lives.  

But if we listen closer to today’s story, we will hear God’s love and  compassion.  

God cannot prevent tragedies from happening all the time – sometimes nature, or people are the cause of the outcome:  discrimination, violence, or death.  

God cannot stop us from experiencing life in all its diversity, and  with all its challenges. We do have free will after all.  

Even then, God shows up in many ways.  

God shows up in families and communities who take in refugees,  victims of war and violence.  

God shows up in people advocating for indigenous rights, and  healing centres that have recently opened to help those who have been 

traumatized by residential schools, and their children, so they can learn  their traditional wisdom and medicines from elders. 

Now the children of the previous generation can learn their  indigenous language and culture and become leaders and spokespeople, educating us through the process of truth and reconciliation.  

God shows up when we feel broken at the news of the bus crash in  Manitoba, with prayers from around the country, and communities  rallying around those who face such tragedies.  

God is with us when we pray and hold each other in good times  and bad.  

God is with us constantly.  

I have a happy good news story:  

A true underdog story.  

Back in the fall we heard the story of many of the teens in the  Nantyr Shores Music program, who were looking for a chance to do  something special. Many of them had many challenges, problems at  home, each one had their own unique story. They were very moving. 

On Thursday night I got to go to the concert at the school to hear  them play. They were amazing – and I’m not just saying that.  Mr. Vaz told the story of the year they had – attending music  events, participating even in the Toronto symphony orchestra, and being  taught by a professor there who ended up being their adjudicator at the  Niagara nationals.  

Many commented: “there was something different about your  group. People noticed they had a special “Spirit.” 

Opportunities came so quickly they could hardly keep up. The kids  worked so hard, at lunch time, after school, even after the semester was  over when their courses were done. They just kept on going.  

Mr. Vaz said, they were invited to places they should not have  been. They cleaned up and got awards they should not have won. But  they did! And it is still happening.” 

Who knows what will happen next. But we are proud to have showed  up as God’s hands and feet and support them in the process. And we  look forward to hearing them next fall at one of our churches. 

God is there for them – even in adversity. And now the school is  showcasing their talent. And that auditorium was packed – standing  room only! 

Now the “outcast” kids are the cool kids who are in the band, and  everybody wants to participate. Such an amazing journey.  No doubt the Spirit is with them. Code word for God.  

Closing 

I’d like to end with a Psalm – one of my favourites. Hear it as a  meditation, listening or closing your eyes, and reflecting on where God  is in your life, and in this community.  

Psalm 139 

¹ You have searched me, Lord, 

 and you know me. 

² You know when I sit and when I rise; 

 you perceive my thoughts from afar. 

³ You discern my going out and my lying down; 

 you are familiar with all my ways. 

⁴ Before a word is on my tongue

 you, Lord, know it completely. 

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit? 

 Where can I flee from your presence? ⁸If I go up to the heavens, you are there;  if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. ⁹If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

 if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, 

 your right hand will hold me fast. ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me  and the light become night around me,” ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;  the night will shine like the day, 

 for darkness is as light to you. 

God is with us in the good and the bad.  God is with us.  

Thanks be to God.  

Amen.