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Seen, Known and Elevated by God · WholeHeart Conversations

• 0:00
  Constance Lavonice: In the book of Genesis, we learn about a woman named Hagar.
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  Constance Lavonice: Hagar found herself in the wilderness twice.
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  Constance Lavonice: The first time she ran away to the wilderness.
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  Constance Lavonice: The second time she found herself there by no fault of her own.
• 0:20
  Constance Lavonice: Discarded, dejected, and distressed.
• 0:26
  Constance Lavonice: What she thought was the end was actually the beginning.
• 0:33
  Constance Lavonice: You're listening to Wholeheart Conversations, a podcast especially for women, to provide biblical encouragement that fosters resilience through the practical application of God's Word.
• 0:49
  Constance Lavonice: I'm your host, Constance Lavonice.
• 0:53
  Constance Lavonice: Hagar was an Egyptian servant of Abraham's wife Sarah.
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  Constance Lavonice: Sarah, whose name was Sarai at the time, had no children, so she gave Hagar to her husband Abraham as his wife so that Hagar might bear children for Sarai.
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  Constance Lavonice: But once Hagar conceived, she despised Sarah.
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  Constance Lavonice: The Bible says Sarai became insignificant in Hagar's sight.
• 1:34
  Constance Lavonice: So Sarai treated Hagar harshly, and Hagar fled to the wilderness.
• 1:43
  Constance Lavonice: An angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water, and he asked her, What are you doing here?
• 1:51
  Constance Lavonice: And told Hagar, return to your mistress, Sarai, and submit to her authority.
• 1:59
  Constance Lavonice: You're pregnant with the son.
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  Constance Lavonice: Name him Ishmael, for the Lord has seen your affliction.
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  Constance Lavonice: And Hagar called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, El Roy, the God who sees.
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  Constance Lavonice: Fast forward, and Sarai is now named Sarah.
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  Constance Lavonice: And she has the child that God promised Abraham, Isaac.
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  Constance Lavonice: And when Isaac was winged, Abraham had a great feast.
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  Constance Lavonice: But Sarah saw Ishmael, Hagar's son, mocking Isaac.
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  Constance Lavonice: And she later said to Abraham, Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.
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  Constance Lavonice: And Abraham was greatly distressed because of his son Ishmael.
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  Constance Lavonice: But God said, Do not be distressed.
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  Constance Lavonice: Do what Sarah tells you.
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  Constance Lavonice: Listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named.
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  Constance Lavonice: Early the next morning Abraham gave Hagar bread and a skin of water, and he sent Hagar and Ishmael away.
• 3:36
  Constance Lavonice: Genesis twenty one verse fourteen says, Hagar departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Bathsheba.
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  Constance Lavonice: And when the water was gone, she placed Ishmael under a bush and sat down opposite of him.
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  Constance Lavonice: She didn't want to see him die.
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  Constance Lavonice: She raised her voice and wept.
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  Constance Lavonice: God heard Ishmael crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, What is the matter with you, Hagar?
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  Constance Lavonice: Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
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  Constance Lavonice: Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him by the hand, for I will make him a great nation.
• 4:37
  Constance Lavonice: Then God opened Hagar's eyes, and Hagar saw a well of water and gave Ishmael a drink.
• 4:50
  Constance Lavonice: Hagar found herself in the desert, the wilderness, discarded, dejected, and distressed, alone with her son.
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  Constance Lavonice: Hagar thought it was the end, but the same God that she had seen before and named El Roy saw Hagar and answered her.
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  Constance Lavonice: Hagar thought it was the end, but God knew it was the beginning.
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  Constance Lavonice: So if you're in a place alone and isolated, distressed, feeling unseen, rejected, betrayed, or possibly blaming yourself, I want you to know that the same God that saw Hagar sees you.
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  Constance Lavonice: Not only did he see Hagar, but he provided for her.
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  Constance Lavonice: It's the same in our lives.
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  Constance Lavonice: The Bible is a real life historical account of real people with flesh and blood, just like you and me.
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  Constance Lavonice: And the Bible encourages us with the stories so that we can have hope in the midst of despair.
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  Constance Lavonice: God sees us.
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  Constance Lavonice: God is close to the brokenhearted.
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  Constance Lavonice: If you draw near to him, he will draw near to you.
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  Constance Lavonice: As I said last week, God will instruct you and teach you and counsel you with his eye upon you.
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  Constance Lavonice: If you're in the desert, first look up toward God and open the Bible so he can speak to you.
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  Constance Lavonice: Next, allow yourself to be encouraged by someone else who has a relationship with God.
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  Constance Lavonice: Third, consider attending a church that is rightly dividing the word of God and demonstrating the love of Christ.
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  Constance Lavonice: And finally, allow God to lead you on a new path, a new beginning.
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  Constance Lavonice: And if this speaks to you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help more women find biblical encouragement that fosters resilience.