Are you the kind of person who likes new experiences, or who goes out of their way to try new things?

I used to believe that I was someone who was always open to change. But these days—whether it’s because I’m getting more set in my ways or because of how uncertain the world feels around me—I do find myself finding comfort in the familiar. Whether it’s a familiar dish for a takeout dinner, or even the same toothpaste that I’ve gotten used to over the years, it’s often the little things that help me feel like things are going to be OK. 

And when these things change? When an item gets taken off of the menu or my toothpaste gets changed because someone feels like it needs to be “new and improved.” Well…I hope I’m not the only one who finds themselves getting upset over these little things. We human beings like our little comforts, don’t we?

What about when God calls us to live differently, or to actively seek out change because of a new blessing or liberating word that must be proclaimed to God’s people? Can I be ready to enthusiastically be a part of what God is doing in the world? Or do I resist because it’s uncomfortable? I hope you’ll reflect on this kind of a situation as we continue to dig into the Exodus story of the liberation of God’s people. 

Peace, 

Hardy

Join us immediately following worship this Sunday for Coffee Hour

After the service is over, log on to our Zoom coffee time at:

“Economist Theresa Wiig from the University of Belgen in Norway has found that ‘losses loom larger than gains’ in the hearts and minds of those with the power to make impactful choices. This feels especially true for churches.”

—Rev. Jan Edmiston, Why Congregations Make Decisions that Keep Them Stuck

And Sarai said to Abram, “You see that the Lord has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my slave-girl; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife.

He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my slave-girl to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” But Abram said to Sarai, “Your slave-girl is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she ran away from her.

The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave-girl of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her.”

The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.” And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Now you have conceived and shall bear a son; you shall call him Ishmael, for the Lord has given heed to your affliction. He shall be a wild ass of a man, with his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; and he shall live at odds with all his kin.” So she named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are El-roi”; for she said, “Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.

Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.