The blessing of being the second

Anonymous Heroes  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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INTRO

In the last few months we have been hearing a lot the expression “Anonymous Heroes”, a title dedicated to honor and say thank you to all of those fighting diseases every single day, especially in these pandemic times.
We are starting a series of messages today, also called “Anonymous Heroes”, but, however we agree in celebrating our professionals in the health environment, in these series we will concentrate our study in men and women from the Bible, some of them are named in the Bible narrative, and some who don’t even have a name. We hope these sermons will help you to understand how anybody, from different backgrounds, culture and skills, can overcome their limitations and thrive in their walk with the Lord.
Hebrews 11:38 calls them “men and women of whom the world was not worthy”;

Today, opening our series, we will see the story of an Egyptian slave, HAGAR, who was the maidservant of Sarah and Abraham.

MAIN TEXT

Genesis 21:14–20 NKJV
So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
Genesis 21:14–20 RVR95BTO
Al día siguiente, Abraham se levantó muy de mañana, tomó pan y un odre de agua y se lo dio a Agar. Lo puso sobre su hombro, le entregó el muchacho y la despidió. Ella salió y anduvo errante por el desierto de Beerseba. Cuando le faltó el agua del odre, puso al muchacho debajo de un arbusto, se fue y se sentó enfrente, a distancia de un tiro de arco, porque decía: «No veré cuando el muchacho muera». Cuando ella se sentó enfrente, el muchacho alzó la voz y lloró. Oyó Dios la voz del muchacho, y el ángel de Dios llamó a Agar desde el cielo y le dijo: «¿Qué tienes, Agar? No temas, porque Dios ha oído la voz del muchacho ahí donde está. Levántate, toma al muchacho y tenlo de la mano, porque yo haré de él una gran nación». Entonces Dios le abrió los ojos, y vio una fuente de agua. Fue Agar, llenó de agua el odre y dio de beber al muchacho. Dios asistió al muchacho, el cual creció, habitó en el desierto y fue tirador de arco.
Our theme for today is:

The blessing of being the second

Not everyone likes second places, normally, we want the first place, we like recognition, and sometimes that becomes a problem, sometimes that comes with boasting...

Illustration - “Grave Digger - Coveiro” (Enterrador)

What made Hagar, a simple maidservant, such an important example for all of us? Which characteristics put her as an anonymous hero?

First, Hagar was an anonymous hero because of her...

1. WILLINGNESS TO SERVE

We do not know much about Hagar’s background, but it’s important to highlight that many scholars, including respected Jewish Rabbis say that Hagar was actually a royal princess, daughter of the same Pharaoh who wanted to be with Sarah, thinking that she was Abraham’s sister, when they were in Egypt (Genesis 12);
When Hagar started serving Sarah and Abraham, she was probably very young, she was taken into the pilgrimage life of Abraham; and she did throughout her whole life!
She could have all kinds of grudges and resentment, but she didn’t;

A true hero is that who is willing to serve, to be in second place if necessary, but fulfill the mission the Lord has placed on us, following Jesus’ example, Who didn’t come to be served, but to serve.

Second, Hagar was also an anonymous hero because of her...

2. OBEDIENCE IN DIFFICULT TIMES

To obey in good times is easy… but Jesus Himself warned us about stormy times, times of affliction;
The promise the Lord had made to Abraham and Sarah was “delayed”… about 12 years had passed when Sarah requested Hagar to have a son with Abraham;
Now Sarah needed her, and Hagar was willing to serve.
Hagar knew that that son to be born would never be “her son”, but Abraham and Sarah’s; nevertheless, she was willing to obey;

You see, obedience is the master key of servanthood. As believers, we must understand that. Are you willing to obey God, even in difficult times, even when that comes with self-denial and taking up your cross?

Third, Hagar was an anonymous hero also because of her...

3. HUMBLENESS TO FORGIVE AND START OVER

One of the most remarkable moments in Hagar’s life was when she went to the desert with her son Ishmael, (as we saw in the main text we read). This was actually the second time Hagar left to the desert. Hagar had already come back to Sarah in Genesis 16:9, this would have to be the second time!

At the desert she had a great experience with the Lord, what she expected that it was going to die, became the reason of her joy and hope;
Imagine having to come back to Sarah for the second time… but she did!

In the midst of despair, let’s ask the Lord to open our eyes to see the provision God has for us:

Genesis 21:19 NKJV
Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink.
Genesis 21:19 RVR95BTO
Entonces Dios le abrió los ojos, y vio una fuente de agua. Fue Agar, llenó de agua el odre y dio de beber al muchacho.

Hagar left with only a jar of water, but when in the desert God showed her a well!

FINAL APPLICATIONS

As Hagar, we are also servants, sometimes life can bring us humiliation and pain;
Hagar was always the second, after Sarah, her son Ishmael was the second, after Isaac. Nevertheless, her endurance made her see the blessings of the Lord upon her and her son. There is a blessing in being the second!

Hagar clung to the promises of God. God promised to her and He also promised to Abraham:

Genesis 17:20 NKJV
And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 17:20 RVR95BTO
Y en cuanto a Ismael, también te he oído. Lo bendeciré, lo haré fructificar y multiplicar mucho en gran manera, engendrará doce príncipes y haré de él una gran nación.

Truthfully, the 12 princes of Ishmael came before the 12 sons of Jacob, Isaac’s son!

But, who are the Ishmael descendants today? Are they really blessed??

Many scholars believe that most Arabs trace back to Ishmael. They are blessed!! Today!!

Maybe you see yourself as someone unknown, just working hard, always being the second. But the Lord is not done with you. You can be a hero in the hands of the Lord, you can leave a legacy!!

Even if we are not on “the top of the ranking”, even if you feel like "the other one”, even if you are not the number one, there is blessings in being the second! You can be a hero for God, you can be a blessing, EVEN BEING THE SECOND!

Let’s pray.

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