Mensa Otabil - Where Are You Going? (10/03/2025)
Questioning, where are you going? You have a sense of vision, but where are you going? Genesis chapter 16, verse 8: "And he said, 'Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?' And she said, 'I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.'"
Hagar was a victim of circumstances. If you know her story, she was a maid to Abraham's wife, Sarah; at this time, her name is Sarai, but we'll use Sarah. Abraham and Sarah didn't have a child, and by their own arrangement, they thought that Hagar could facilitate their desire for a child. It wasn't the smartest decision, but it was implemented, and Hagar becomes pregnant. Then everything goes wrong with the plan. You know there are times you have a plan; you think this is the best plan, and then it starts unfolding, and you say, "Oh, oh, it's the worst plan I've ever made."
So that's what happens. Sarah begins to mistreat Hagar, and she mistreats her so badly that Hagar runs away from home. She's a pregnant woman who runs away from home and lands in the wilderness, almost losing her life. In that wilderness, an angel of the Lord appears to her and asks her a question: "Hagar, where are you going?" That's a good question for each of us. You get up in the morning, you go through all your rituals and chores, and you rush out of the house.
Where are you going? You're moving, making calls, and doing all kinds of activities. Where are you going? It's very possible to move without going anywhere. Many people move frantically in a frenzy but end up going nowhere. At the end of the day, you may feel like you've worked and worked but still don't know where you're going or what you've achieved. Hagar's answer to the angel was very interesting; she had no clue where she was going. She knew where she had fled from, but she had no sense of direction. She just said, "I have fled from my mistress, Sarah."
It's not who did you flee from, but where are you going? She knew what made her run: frustration and anger. She had been mistreated, and she was running, but she had no sense of where she was going. This is a crucial instruction for us—that being angry is not enough to move in a direction. It can get you moving, but you may lose your way. Sometimes, we are led by frustration or bad treatment—someone didn't treat you well, someone didn't help you, or somebody dislikes you. So you say, "I'm leaving; I'm quitting this job; I'm not going to be here again."
Where are you going? It's not just important to flee but where are you going? That's the question that Hagar couldn't answer. In the end, the angel tells Hagar to go back to where she was running away from. There will come a time when you can move with a clear sense of direction, but at this time, this kind of movement where anger and frustration make you run without direction can land you from frying pan to fire.
So the question I'm also asking you today is, where are you going with all your busyness? Where are you going? I pray that God will give you direction—not only to be active and energetic but that God will help you have a clear sense of direction with your vision. Let's share a prayer together; say with me, "Heavenly Father, I know that your eyes are always on me. Help me not to make rash decisions in my life. In Jesus' name, amen and amen." Don't just rush out; you have to know where you're going. I'm Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.