God tells Hagar to lift the boy and take him by the hand, for he will make him into a great nation. The command follows the pattern throughout Scripture: act, because I will provide. Lift him up: the action. I will make him a great nation: the promise. Jeremiah 29:11 promises plans for welfare and not evil, a future and a hope — Hagar in the desert is receiving exactly that. The application: the command to act in despair is always accompanied by a promise. Act on the command and trust the promise.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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