April 4, 2024 Two Questions
“Where have you come from, and where are you going?” Jesus posed those two questions to a young servant girl in the 18th century BC. As ministers (servants), we must answer those same questions today to move forward and reap the blessings God has for us.
“And He said, ‘Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?’” (Gen. 16:8 NKJV).
Two Questions
Three bad decisions, (I won’t go into them here) by three different individuals, Sarai, Abraham, and Hagar, resulted in a young woman being homeless and severely depressed in the wilderness (Gen. 16:1-6). With her was the little boy she had by the husband of her mistress. She had lived in the home of a wealthy man and now she and her son were facing death in the wilderness. Suddenly, she had a theophany and was face-to-face with the Angel of the LORD (Jesus) who asked her two questions: “Where have you come from, and where are you going?”
The first question called for retrospection (to reflect on her past). The second called for introspection (to look deeply within and get naked with her very soul)!
Recalling only the harsh treatment she had received from Sarai (Gen. 16:6), Hagar answered only the first question. “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress” (Gen. 16:8b). Hagar had no difficulty being retrospective, but like with most of us, it is hard to be introspective. It is easy to look back and reflect on what others have done to us, but it is much more difficult to look deeply within ourselves and fully expose who we are—who we really are—not our reputation, but our character.
Understand this. We cannot see the fulfillment of our aspirations and dreams until we can see who we are. Then and only then can we answer the question that Hagar did not answer. We cannot alter what has been done to us by others, but we can modify our behavior as it relates to others. What had Hagar done that she needed to reckon with? She had taunted Sarai after becoming pregnant with Abraham’s son. So, the Angel of the LORD instructed Hagar to repent and return. Then she would be blessed with countless descendants.
Perhaps, Hagar could have avoided being in the wilderness and mentally depressed if she had taken the time to ask herself the two questions Jesus posed to her before she hit rock bottom. As God’s servants, how often do you ask, “Where have I come from and where am I going?” Somehow, I do not believe those questions were meant for Hagar only back in the 18th century BC. They are also meant for us in this second quarter of AD 2024!
Focus Quote: “But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.”