Unjust Wounds

By Guy K. Henry

www.guyhenry.com

 

Sometimes hurt comes into our lives, and it is not earned, justified or deserved. Worse yet, sometimes the hand of one we love and trust delivers that hurt. To you this retelling of the story found in Genesis 16 and 21 is dedicated.

Hagar gazed into Abraham’s cold and determined eyes as he strapped the flask of water to her back and handed her a block of bread. She searched for that kindness that existed years ago but it was not there.

She recalled that time long ago when she was Sarah’s maid. The day when Sarah came to her with an outlandish proposal is as clear as if it were yesterday. Abraham’s kind words about the incredible promise God had given him about being the father of a great nation, and Hagar’s part in that promise by bearing a son still echoed in her mind.

Day after day Hagar thankfully cared for her boy, Ishmael. She watched him grow up, filled with joy that a great promise was to be fulfilled through him. Her hope, indeed the hope of the world rested upon the tender shoulders of this boy. Hagar had found her purpose for living.

But there were problems. Even from the start there was a discord formed between Hagar and her beloved mistress Sarah. Hagar’s position was now ambiguous. Abraham’s enthusiasm for the Lord’s promise had elevated Hagar’s hopes, and he did nothing to quell them. The very child Sarah had allowed to be conceived threatened her.  As Ishmael grew, so also did Sarah’s misgivings.

Hagar’s dreams were shaken years later by the miraculous birth of Isaac. As the ‘legitimate’ son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac’s birth cast uncertainty into Hagar’s life. There was joy in the household, joy everywhere except in Hagar’s heart. Instead there was fear and insecurity beating inside her.

The fears were real. The insecurity was real. This day was too real. Abraham’s back turned against Hagar and her precious son Ishmael as he surrendered them to the cruel desert wilderness. Promises canceled, future uncertain. “You must leave…” rolled off Abraham’s tongue and stung Hagar’s ears.

Hagar and Ishmael walked in the blistering heat for days. Hagar recounted how she had simply been obedient to her mistress Sarah. As payment for that obedience she was cast aside, wandering in the desert. Ishmael journeyed alongside her. He’d heard her mother repeat great promises to him, promises that seemed very empty now. Together they were consumed with hopelessness.

Even though they drank from the water flask sparingly, there came the inevitable day when it was dry. Death leered at them from behind every hill. They both silently recognized that life was seeping from them very quickly. Hagar was the first to despair. She took her son, her hope, her dream, and stashed him beneath a shrub. There he would lapse into unconsciousness until death overtook him. She could not bear to witness these last moments, so she took herself as far as her weak legs would go, and collapsed, her back towards Ishmael. There she awaited her own death.

She cried bitter tears that dried instantly onto her parched face. She asked questions like; “What have I done to deserve this?” and “What about your promises?” Deep in her heart she wondered why she had been abandoned so completely. Abandoned by those she loved, Sarah and Abraham. Yes, it seemed abandoned by God Himself.

God heard her and her son. There in the wilderness of death, God repeated His promise. Hagar had believed that promise had been robbed from her. That it had been thrown thousands of miles away. Now God was there with her in that sandy place delivering her that old wonderful promise with his outstretched hand.

Then, a magnificent thing happened. God opened her eyes. Instead of dust and sand he showed her something that took words away from her. It says in Genesis 21:19 “And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.”

That day God gave to Hagar and Ishmael both rescue and fulfillment of the promises made years ago.

Abraham’s treatment of Hagar, while in the long term necessary, was not fair or deserved. Wounds were inflicted that Hagar and Ishmael did not merit. The very hands that should have offered love, protection and mercy dealt injury to them.

Doesn’t that still happen today? A spouse is blindsided when he or she comes home to find a note telling them that it’s over. A parent is crippled when their child’s enraged tongue deals words of hatred. A child is beaten down with words, or worse. Even in churches and Christian circles today, once loved ones are cast into the wilderness every day.

Some wounds are justified. These most painful ones are not.

Do we wander into a wilderness of isolation and shout, “Never again!”?  “Never again will I allow myself to be hurt this way again!” “Never will I trust anyone again and allow myself to be vulnerable and be hurt.” Do we choose that temporary painkiller called isolation, and choose to forget that in the long term it will bring us even more pain?

And what about that hope that was our dreams and our joy all wrapped up? Do we take that hope that one day long ago glimmered with life and promise, and stash it under a shrub to fade away and die? Do we abandon it and allow it to perish in the back recesses of our memory?

Sadly, the answer to those questions is often “YES”. We announce that we’ve been hurt once too many times, and vow that we never will be again. But there is good news.

Just like God opened Hagar’s eyes and revealed a life giving well of water, He is standing by, ready to open our eyes. When people have let us down, God is still standing there strong. When we bleed from the wounds of loved ones, God heals us in ways we could never imagine. When we bury our hopes and dreams, God digs them up and breathes new life into them.

It says in Psalms 37:23-24  “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” If we lift up our hand from our pit in the wilderness, we will be met with God’s hand. People will come and go. The unjust will have to deal with the other portions of Psalms 37. But know this, God can be trusted. We can be vulnerable in front of Him, because he will not hurt us.

Just as God provided a well of water for Hagar in the midst of her wilderness, he provides sustenance for us in the midst of our turmoil, suffering, and despair. Long ago, God made a promise to us. We were made his children, and given that wonderful privilege to serve Him and be a part of a great nation. Yes, people have come in between us, and hurt us. They will not be easily removed from our thoughts. But, just like Hagar’s well was a miracle, so is God’s healing. Won’t you stretch your arms out to God, and allow Him to mend those unjust wounds. Remember God’s promise, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” James 4:8.

You are important to God, too important to die alone in the wilderness. Allow God to heal you. Allow God to use you. Allow that promise to shine again.