“O Lord…you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving kindness…” (Collect for the Day)

One of my favorite theologians, Howard Thurman says that faith helped him avoid overestimating or underestimating his own powers. Faith protected him against the ravages of depression that could result from personal failings, arrogance, and pride. Faith centered his spirit on that which was authentic and genuine. Faith kept him from betraying his soul. Thurman said that faith in his fellowman kept him from confusing compassion with pity, sympathy with sentimentality, and love with emotional reaction. Faith slowed down the swiftness of his judgments and urged him to wait out all disaffection. He goes on to say that: Faith taught him that life has its own restraints and carries away all calamities, all tragedies, and all disorders. Faith led him directly to the source of life, which is at once the goal of life -- God. Faith fed the springs of his courage and broke the walls of isolation that surrounded him. He was no longer afraid because of his steadfast faith in God.

Our Genesis reading is a story about Hagar’s transformation in the desert from fear to faith. Sarah, her master, demands Abraham to banish her Egyptian slave and son, Ishmael from the family compound. Ishmael is Abraham’s first-born son. Can you imagine how Hagar felt being thrown out of the household with nothing but a little bread and water? The fear that must have built up in the depths of her soul as she realized her son would have none of his inherited birthrights from his father must have been devastating. She must have felt powerless and desperate. There were no kind feelings shared between Sarah and Hagar especially following the birth of Sarah’s son, Isaac. Sarah’s jealously of Hagar created high voltage rage and hostility toward Hagar and her son. Sarah saw Ishmael as a threat to her son Isaac’s inheritance. God directs a distressed Abraham to do as Sarah wishes to renew order to the family and to maintain the covenant with Abraham. Abraham was, of course, concerned with the welfare of his first-born son. God assures Abraham that Ishmael will be taken care of and prosper. However, Hagar and her son had to go! It was the only solution.

Hagar, beset with bewilderment and despair wanders into the desert. She is suddenly a single mother. She fears for the life of her son when they run out of the meager provisions of bread and water that Abraham has given them. Like all mothers, she could not bear to see her son perish. In desperation, Hagar and Ishmael cry out and experience God's providence. God knew the hardship of the desert. They experience first hand that God does hear and cares with loving kindness and mercy. The angel of God appears before Hagar in her weakest moment of despair and fear. God has shown her that even though Isaac's name means, "he laughs, God proves to Hagar that Ishmael’s means “God hears." (adapted from Rev. Aaron C Stevens, Minister of St Columba's, Budapest, hpp//.www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship). They most likely felt abandoned but learned that God did not abandon them. The scripture says, “Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water…gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy, and he grew up.” (Genesis 21, NRSV). Hagar’s faith blossomed and God’s covenant with a faithful Abraham is maintained through both of his sons as promised. Isaac becomes the father of the nation of Israel. Ishmael becomes the father of the nation of the nomadic Arabs, the Muslim nation. God did this for the sake of Abraham. God does not abandon us when we felt betrayed by the Church, friends, colleagues, family members, or peers.

Hagar’s story is our story for those times when we are having our own desert moments, for instance feeling uninsured of our worth or value in God’s eyes; discouraged; or un expectant things occur in our lives that throw us off guard that raise our anxiety. Sometimes we find ourselves in uncontrollable situation but we care called to remain faithful to God. Life is not always fair and can be difficult and not glamorous. Hagar found a way to survive her dilemma and regained her dignity because with her newly opened eyes she saw that her son would be blessed.

The good news in Matthew’s gospel we hear that we are valuable. Our soul cannot be crushed by others. God cares for us so much that every hair on our head counts and is known to God. In Jesus day, sparrows were very common birds. They were a food source for the poor and they were sold cheaply. They were perhaps less than one-half a cent each. Ok, do the math, you could purchase two sparrows for one penny. Well you had yourself a bargain spending two cents and get four sparrows and an extra sparrow made the bargain worthwhile. For the disciples Jesus explains everyday God’s loving care would be with them on their mission as God is with us today. Because even the small sparrow that comes extra as part of the bargain deal is precious to God.