From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Used, Abused, Abandoned but Not Forgotten // January 18, 2026

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Used, Abused, Abandoned but Not Forgotten

Hagar

Genesis 16:3-13

Used/Despising

Genesis 16:4 NLT

“So, Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar

knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt.”

Abused - Mistreatment

Genesis 16:6 NLT

“Abram replied, ‘Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.’”

Abandoned

In light of the contempt, Sarai gets sick of it. Abram gets sick of hearing about it, and the

thing continues to be a big mess. Abram says to Sarai… “Do as you see fit,” in essence

washing his hands of the story. Hagar now gets shipped off to the wilderness with very

limited resource.

But Not Forgotten

·     God heard the boy crying and heard Hagar’s affliction and her pain.

·     God is near to the brokenhearted and comes close to those who are crushed in spirit.

·     God provides and promises to bless Ishmael and his inheritance

Tamar

Genesis 38:6-30

Used/Abused

Wicked husbands - Second son, particularly… wants the sex but not the responsibility

Abandoned

Sent away from the household of Judah to her own parents’ house under the ruse of waiting for the third son, which Judah had no intention of giving. Tamar has a ‘black-widow’ label attached to her. She has become the one at fault… not the evil brothers.

·     Tamar is put on parade in front of the people and about to be burned for her ‘sin’. Alone…

But Not Forgotten

She is named in the lineage of Jesus…

Out of the scandal and mess of Judah’s life comes the reminder that in God’s time, he will work his purposes.... Who would have thought that from the union of Judah and Tamar, we would have the line of Jesus… God is out to redeem lives, not just condemn lives!

Joseph

Genesis 37:1-36, 39:1-50:26

USED

Interpreted dreams and immediately forgotten

Abused

Stripped of his Robe, his reminder that he was loved

·     Thrown in a pit

·     Sold to the Ishmaelite traders

·     Sold as a slave in Egypt

Abandoned

·     Joseph is falsely accused of attempted rape by Potiphar’s wife after he refused to sin against God.

·     Based on these lies, his master abandoned him to a royal prison.

·     Forgotten by Others: Even after helping the cupbearer in prison, he was forgotten for years. 

But Not Forgotten

·     The phrase "The Lord was with Joseph” appears repeatedly in Genesis 39, highlighting God's constant companionship even in the pit and the prison.

·     God granted Joseph favor with his captors and success in his tasks, even in slavery and prison.

·     There is Purpose in Pain: God used these trials to build Joseph's character and prepare him for his future role in saving Egypt and his family from famine, demonstrating that what was intended for harm, God used for good.