Finding Hope in Hardship

 Transcribed by AI

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Dear listeners, today we want to talk about the love of Hagar from the Book of Genesis, Chapter 21, verses 9 to 21. Please listen carefully, and then we will discuss it.

When Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking Isaac, the son of Sarah, she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac." This matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael. But God said to Abraham, "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring."

Early the next morning, Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with her boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy die." As she sat there, she began to sob.

God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation." 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 as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. His mother got a wife for him from Egypt. Amen.

How interesting it is! When we read this story, there is a part we haven't shared with you dear listeners. When we read it ourselves, we see that Sarah is upset with Abraham because she has not had children. When Hagar is pregnant, she becomes proud and elevates herself above Sarah.

Here, Sarah is in pain, and she asks Abraham to send Hagar away. When she leaves the house, the angel of the Lord speaks to Hagar and says, "Is that true? I have indeed seen the Lord," but she obeys again. Then she returns home, but this time when her son is born, it is not just Hagar who is mocked; even her son Isaac mocks him and they both laugh, praising God.

If we look closely, we see that in times of trouble, we often find temptations for solutions. Yes, we want to resolve these issues and find ways to escape the pain and hardship. However, dear listeners, running away from problems cannot lead us to solutions or our goals.

I remember one of our neighbours when two brothers were fighting over land that was left to them by their father. Whenever they made noise, the elders of the community gathered to try and resolve their issues.

However, the younger brother, who always insulted the elder brother, would avoid coming to these meetings. Everyone would wait for him to join and settle the dispute. This situation shows us that problems do arise in our lives, and we often want to run away from them, but dear listeners, running away is not the solution.

Hagar also got used to this escape; whenever things didn't go her way, she would run away. Most of Hagar's problems stemmed from decisions that others imposed on her. But as we see, Sarah decides that Hagar should bear a son for Abraham, and she makes her a rival, which likely leads to problems.

It is easy to understand that when Ishmael was in Hagar's womb, we see that she also bore a proud child. Yes, he came and belittled her. This conflict between Hagar and Sarah led Sarah to distance herself or punish Hagar.

When God had promised Sarah that she would have a child, we also see Sarah's impatience. She thinks, "We are not having children. I must give Hagar to Abraham so that we can have a child." Sarah doubts or is sceptical that God has not given them what He promised quickly.

These problems are what many of our compatriots face today—doubt and disbelief. They want to escape their issues, but God is not like that. God's work is slow, testing how mature your faith is.

After this, God tells Abraham in verse 12 not to worry about the boy and the slave woman. He says to do whatever Sarah tells him. He reassures him that the descendants He promised him will come through Isaac. He also promises to bless the son of the slave woman Hagar, saying that He will also make him into a great nation. God does not overlook him because he is a son of Abraham.

The next morning, Abraham gives Hagar food and water, sending her away with her child. As she wanders in the wilderness and the water runs out, she places her child under a bush, thinking that her death and her child's death is imminent. She doesn’t want to see her son die and she cries out to God.

So, dear listeners, what Ishmaels have you left under bushes that cause you pain? You cry and weep, but your voice is not heard. Today, if you have an Ishmael in a dry wilderness of hardship and pain, know that those who trust in God will one day be refreshed. They will emerge from this barren land and find salvation. This salvation is in the living God who even at that time listened to Hagar and Ishmael.

And for you today, if there are hardships in our country, in our homeland, in this region, and in every province of Afghanistan, know that this suffering is not just yours. It is for all of Afghanistan. Perhaps many countries are facing similar issues. But today, we encourage you to realise that the cries of your children reach God.

Today, God speaks to you just like He spoke to Hagar, saying, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid." Today, God is saying to you, "Do not be afraid," because He has heard your cries and your pain. When we see that you are becoming impatient or losing faith, do not doubt God. He sees your struggles. Just as we said in our previous programme, God sees your struggles, just as He saw Hezekiah and extended his life.

Today, the living God also brings you life and longevity. So do not be afraid. This world is full of chaos, full of sighs and laments. We cannot escape from problems and difficulties in this world. Wherever we go, challenges and issues follow us. But blessed is the one who endures pain, hardships, and difficulties. Victory belongs to them, dear listeners.

We know that it is difficult in our country today. The pains, struggles, and problems are increasing. God is speaking to you through our programmes. Do not lose faith. Have faith in the word of God. Believe in what He says. God will surely pull you out of these hardships.

But having faith means believing in the God who came down from heaven for your salvation. We read in Galatians, Chapter 4, verses 27 to 30, where it says, "Rejoice, O barren woman, who has never borne a child; sing aloud, you who have never been in labour, because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."

Now, dear believers, you are like Isaac, the children of the promise of God. At that time, the child born in the ordinary way persecuted the child born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same today. But what does the Torah say? God said to cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will never share in the inheritance with the son of the free woman.

We believers are not children of the slave woman, but children of the free woman. Amen. How beautiful it is that it says, "Rejoice, O woman!" Rejoice, dear listeners! The main point we are discussing is why do we face so much hardship and problems today? The word of God is guiding you, saying you believers in Christ are like Isaac, the children of the promise.

As we said, we are not children of the slave woman, but children who are born through the power of the Spirit of God. This means when someone believes in Jesus Christ, they are born of the Spirit of God.

Believing in Christ is your choice, your decision. If you want to inherit the blessings of Abraham and Isaac, you must believe in Jesus Christ.

Jesus empowers you through His Spirit to heal all your pains and sicknesses. Healing is physical, but spiritual healing is what God provides, which means that all our pains and struggles are in the presence of God.

As we see in Romans, Chapter 9, verse 7, it says, "Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children." God said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be named."

Today, if you want to receive the blessings God has spoken of, we are blessed through Isaac and the children of God who are born by the Spirit of God. How beautiful it is, dear listeners, that today God sees your struggles in this dry wilderness of Afghanistan, where pain and suffering seem to increase day by day.

There are floods, storms, and earthquakes. Indeed, as we see, the problems have become overwhelming. They do not diminish. We are not abandoned in this world, which is dark, and God sees your struggles.

So, dear listeners, the word of God in Revelation, Chapter 21, verses 7 and 8 says, "He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

So, dear listeners, God wants to grant you this victory in the true God, who is Jesus Christ. He wants to bless you, to save you, for in Him is life and He Himself is the source of life. He cleanses your struggles so that there is no more sorrow, no more pain, and no more complaints.

Do you want to enter the kingdom of God? Do you want to believe in God, who said that the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars have no place in the kingdom of God? They do not belong there. Yes, truly, we see that the pains, struggles, and afflictions that come are through the enemy, but when God cleanses our struggles, He loves us, and the goodness of God surrounds us.

But do not be discouraged. Never lose faith, never doubt, but believe in Jesus Christ, the Lord. God is aware of all your pains and problems. There is nothing hidden from God, is there? Yes. If you want to be a child of God, to have your spirit healed, it is still time for you to believe in the true God, who came down from heaven to earth.

You have time to ponder the truth, the word of God, the gospel of God, so that God can reveal all things to you. Be seekers of the word of God, so that you may find the truth of God and be liberated from these wildernesses, from these hardships, and find joy in the Lord.

Once again, dear listeners, as our programme comes to an end, we hope you have been blessed. I commend you to the hands of the mighty living God, who sees your struggles and cleanses them. Goodbye.

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