Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.
When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.
God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”
Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. Genesis 21:14-21
“When we think of wells for the purpose of getting water, the immediate thoughts are of equipment and construction. However, when it comes to wells of generosity, God calls us to a change of approach. He invites us to think more of discovering wells rather than digging them, since He (The Almighty God) has dug the wells Himself!
There is certainly a great need for resources, in order to advance God’s mission in your location and beyond. Many people in the global south however, believe that such resources should come from the West. God’s word points us in a different direction – above, not abroad! In today’s story, God provided water in the most unlikely location – the desert!
This story in Genesis reveals one of the conflicts that we often deal with in the course of our journey as believers. A scarcity mindset or an abundance mentality? Our limitations or God’s possibilities?
… As a result of God’s intervention, Hagar discovered what she needed most, water! What do you need most at this point in your stewardship journey? Ask God to show you where He has kept it for you…
When we experience transformation in the place of prayers, God helps us to discover what we really need the most. Note that when God eventually opened her eyes, what she saw was NOT a bottle of water; it wasn’t a drum of water; it was a well of water. We serve the God of abundance who gives us more that we ask…
The primary reason God provided water was to quench Ishmael’s thirst. In the same vein, the primary reason God provides us with resources is to ensure that His vision for us, our family and ministry is nurtured. How exciting to note again that God gives in abundance, not just what is enough but more than enough.
From Scripture, it is very clear that God will always look out for other faithful servants that He can trust with His resources, if the people entrusted with the resources prefer to hoard it than to give it away. May the Lord make us channels of His resources.”
Kehinde Ojo in “Discovering and Releasing Wells of Generosity in your Location” blog post on 13 November 2020 of the Ministry Fundraising Network. If you are not subscribed to this blog to get a global perspective on, click here to add your email to the list.
Kehinde is a Nigeria friend and brother. He makes many profound points in this piece. And I only quoted an excerpt! Click above to read his entire post. I want to drive home one point from the Scripture and his comments that really struck me.
We must shift our thinking from digging wells to discovering them. Hagar needed God to “open her eyes” to see what was in front of her and to use it to nourish herself and her son. Is it time for us to each ask God to open our eyes? Do it. Pray right now.
Now that your eyes are open, what do you see in front of you? What do you have? How can you use what you have to be a channel of generosity? Kehinde reminds us that we experience transformation in the place of prayers.
If there is brokenness and pain around you and great needs, don’t despair. Pray for God to open your eyes and help you discover the wells from which you can draw abundant supply. And in so doing, experience the joy of becoming a channel of generosity.