Emptiness

By Pastor Bob Rasmussen

Hello Jeff and Carmen! Prayers for travel and safety. There is so much going on in the world right now. We hear that Israel is on the verge of war with Iran. We are positioning equipment, technology, and troops in preparation for any type of aggression by Iran.

I just read that the Supreme court ruled 5-4 striking down the Biden-Harris Title 9 change. That would have allowed biological men in women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, and dorms. How was it not 9-0. I mean seriously, are these people that wicked? And yet I know the answer, yes, they are.

And I see all these things going on, knowing that Jesus is coming, but there are times that I just feel empty. Let’s look at others in the Bible that have felt empty. This morning I’d like to start on Genesis and take a look at Abram:

17 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

Abraham is about 100 years old. God changes his name to Abraham. Abram means “Exalted Father”. Abraham means “Father of multitudes”. But there is a little family drama that is brewing.

There is one thing in the bible that I have to admit that I really like. All these legendary people that are written about in His Word, many – many of them had issues. Sometimes some of them have had to go through the same drama we go through. I have to admit it, I have watched some soap operas in my life. Not by choice, but when my mom would have it on the television – but those soap operas have nothing compared to some of the situations in the Word of God! Amen! But there are some things going on here in Genesis:

Genesis 11:29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

Sarai could not provide an heir. It seems that she was empty. In those days, being barren or unable to conceive came with some preconceived notions. One was that Not right with God.

We have been very blessed to know the joy that Milan, Mike’s son, and Milan’s wife Sarah were able to have a child. Amen? There was a lot of prayer, there was a lot of technology and they were able to conceive – and the Lord blessed them with an adorable son. But they didn’t have that back then. There was no hope of a procedure, or a medication – none of those things that allowed Milan the 3^rd, or M3 as he is affectionately called to be born. And being able to give an heir to the family, with that stripped away – there had to be a certain amount of emptiness in Sarai’s life.

Genesis 16:1-4 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Remember what I said about soap operas – no comparison. Multiple wives? And I know that my wife would never approve of that in any way shape or form. Diana and I have 6 children between us, so fertility has never been an issue.

Be fruitful and multiply, He said. Challenge accepted! But back then, it was actually fairly common that if a wife could not provide an heir, a servant could be assigned that role.She has been through much already, now her hubby is shacking up with another woman? How much emptier she must have felt. But there is more to the story. Genesis 17 continues:

Genesis 17:15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. 16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed,

Have you ever done that? Laughed at the promises of God for your life? No God, those promises are for someone else, not little old me!

and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

Hope for Sarah! Directly from God. But Abraham is like, I’m kind of old! And Sarah, isn’t she kind of old?. Having raised 6 kids together, I am shocked sometimes that they survived! And sometimes I look back at the struggles and challenges and thank God that Diana and I survived. But if Diana told me she was pregnant, even at our young age compared to them – no thanks, I wouldn’t want that. So I get him and his concerns.

Maybe Sarah is not empty, maybe now there is something else that is in her, maybe the thing that will fill her – maybe that thing is – is hope. In Genesis 18, the lord decides to visit Abraham again, and has a conversation with Abraham.

18:9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10 He said, “I will surely return to you at this [e]time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in years; she was past [the age of] childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself.

There it is again, laughing at the promise of God

[when she heard the Lord’s words], saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure and delight, my lord (husband) being also old?” 13 And the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh [to herself], saying, ‘Shall I really give birth [to a child] when I am so old?’ 14 Is anything too difficult or too wonderful for the [f]Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh”; because she was afraid. And He (the Lord) said, “No, but you did laugh.”

I might have laughed as well! When I am empty I can be nervous, dreading what is next to come. Not believing the promises of God, even laughing at them. Have you ever thought about these things?

“You promise peace, ha! Yah right. I am in a relationship that is verbally abusive, or even physically abusive – it’s war in my house. Peace, there can be no peace!”
“You promise faithfulness? I had a spouse, they said they would be faithful, but they cheated on me. There is no faithfulness in my life.
And maybe your faith can be shaken.”
“His Word is too good for ME.” “His promises, I don’t deserve it! His promises, I can’t earn that, I’ll never be good enough!”

I can even forget the promises – I mean it is waaay back in chapter 12 where the promise is made. Genesis 12 is where God promised a child to Abraham. And now we are in Genesis 21. 25 years since the promise – nothing. The Lord tells them again, but they still have not seen the fulfillment of the promise. But finally, Sarah does conceive!

Gen 21: 21 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

AMP Gen 18:14 At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes,

Seasons. We have seasons here. Winter, spring, summer and fall. Sometimes we have 3 seasons in one day, amen? Seasons change for us as well. And seasons change what?

Change us
Change circumstances
Change hearts, sometimes ours, sometimes others
Change our minds, maybe correct are thinking

Sometimes they are a season of refining. The story of the widow and oil appears in the Bible in 2 Kings 4. The story is about a widow who asks the prophet Elisha for help after her husband dies and creditors come to take her sons as slaves. The widow has given away everything in her house to pay her husband’s debts and is left with only a small amount of oil. Elisha tells her to borrow empty vessels from her neighbors and pour the oil into them. When the widow does this, each vessel remains full, and she tells Elisha what has happened. Elisha then tells her to sell the oil and pay her debts, and that she and her children can live on the rest.

Her husband died. There is a tremendous amount of debt. They are coming to take her 2 sons as slaves. She couldn’t be more empty. But God…God takes what she gives, And God multiplies it. She has more than enough. He can make something out of nothing. God rescued her.

How about if you were in the desert? Had a long dayIt’s been exciting, but you are tired. Starting to get hungry. You would have to walk to the nearest town for food and it is going to take a minute. You would be pretty empty! In Matthew 14, John the Baptist had just been beheaded by Herod, and Jesus, goes by way of boat to a solitary place. Then crowds are assembled, and he teaches and heals. Night comes.

Matthew 14:15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

They are saying all we have is empty baskets but just this small amount of food.

18 He said, Bring them hither to me.19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

Jesus saw the need. He saw the emptiness. Jesus did Jesus. He took 5 loaves and 2 fishes. Not only did he feed them all. Not only did he make something out of barely anything. And yet there was enough, there were even leftovers, more than enough! Hallelujah and amen! Imagine – mother with kids, “how am I going to feed my babies?” Father, how much will it cost to feed my family – I don’t know what kind of horse and wagon drive throughs they had, but they probably weren’t cheap. Kids, probably wanted something specific (I want a happy meal). But Jesus, in His perfect love, saw the emptiness and filled it to overflowing!

Or how about Mary? She was empty, in a sense but was then filled, filled with the greatest gift to mankind. An angel had visited and told her what was going to happen.

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

God took an empty womb and filled it with what would conquer the tomb.

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

God can fill me when I say to Him yes Lord. Yes, use me anyway you see fit. And it may not seem logical. And it may not seem reasonable. But He is God and He can do anything.

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

How about David? In 1 Samuel 16 God has rejected Saul as king and he has told Samuel – he directs him to go to the tribe of Jesse where he says the next king will be one of the sons there. Samuel is a little freaked out. He fears that Saul will kill him if he finds out. The Lord says make a sacrifice, I have you covered.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

The Lord knows what he is looking for. He is looking at their hearts, amen. He is looking at their character. He sees them right where they are at.

1 Samuel 16:9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

David has the right heart. God is God, so why did he not make him king right then and there?He said he would be the next King. It was well within the power of God. Maybe there was more that God wanted to do. Was it an empty promise? No. But it could have seemed that way, 14 years seems a bit of a wait.Maybe God had some work to do for some of the empty areas of His heart.

I’m reminded of a story I heard about the Chinese Bamboo Tree. The tree begins as a nut planted in soil and must be watered and fertilized every single day for five years before it finally breaks through the ground.

All that time, it spreads out its roots, and if at any time the watering or fertilizing process stops, the Chinese Bamboo Tree dies in the ground. But, in that fifth year, the Chinese Bamboo Tree finally breaks through the ground and grows to nearly ninety feet tall in just six weeks! The tree must take five long years of developing a strong, deep, wide root system so it doesn’t topple over when it is grown. I tend to get irritated when I don’t get five-year results immediately. The truth is, though, that the process is essential, and everyone must go through the process to get results.

The seed is extremely hard. It takes time to soften a hard heart. Roots are critical in my faith. Waiting for me, it can feel like empty. Reality is that God is helping me develop my roots. He is developing:

Character
- I am certainly not the same person I was before I met God/ My journey has not been perfect, and it took some time for me to change. And it does not stop.
- But here is the thing -God does not need to change – we do.
Skills sometimes it takes time for us to develop the skills that we will need
Faith. Sometimes it may take some time for us to develop our faith.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Sometimes in the waiting, in the empty time, we see some of those things we had hoped for, and we see the evidence of things that are indeed seen. Such as Knowledge and Vision and foundation

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.

Why did God create something that was empty. Could Jesus have created it all at once? Yes, He could have. But we do know that he did more:

Geneisis 1:And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

It did not take God 6 days to do all that he did. God TOOK 6 days, amen. He TOOK 6 days. He took those days for a reason. Does the bible say why He took 6 days? Not to my knowledge. But I can build my faith knowing that whatever God does:

1 – it is in His time

2 – the results will be His will, and His will is perfect!

When I see empty, God sees opportunity.

When I feel empty, God sees opportunity.

When emptiness is like walking with no purpose, God sees process.

God uses opportunity and process for HIS glory.

To develop what he needs to build His Kingdom.

To build the character that He desires.

To sharpen us into a weapon of His righteousness.

For David it took years.

For Abraham it took years.

But the Promises were fulfilled.