Hidden Figures

Copyright: South Bay Community Church
Sermon Reflections: Hidden Figures
Date: 12 May 2024
Speaker: Lead Pastor Tammy Long & Jacqueline Cox
Scripture Text: Romans 16, Acts 18 - Genesis 16:13

Sermon Preamble Summary
A few years ago, a movie came out called Hidden Figures. It is about three African American mathematicians and their overlooked contribution to NASA during the space race era.  Hidden figures referred to the numerical calculations as human computers and also referred to the women themselves who went unknown for many years due to racism and sexism. They were unseen although their contributions changed the space race. This is the story of women who are mothers, daughters, and sisters who ask the unspoken question in their heart, “Does anyone see me?” This is especially true for women in the Bible. In a patriarchal world, our biblical sisters were often hidden figures. Mothers, and women in general, are often unrecognized, unappreciated, undervalued, and unseen; but God sees. No one is hidden from God.

Jacqueline Cox spoke on the hidden female figure of Priscilla. Priscilla is an example of a hidden figure among women in the early church and still sometimes an unsung hero in the church today. John Chrysostom, an early church father and archbishop, wrote about the soul of women in the early church in preaching, martyrdom, stewardship, love of Paul, and charm found in Christ. The Bible mentions Priscilla alongside her husband, but Paul mentions the wife first. Paul wanted to go against the societal norms to level the playing field and reprogram the readers’ thinking about status in the Kingdom of God. Priscilla with her husband was a business woman with a craft of the art of tent making. Creators of art are detailed, patient, hard-working, and value teamwork. Priscilla demonstrated those characteristics in her ministry and daily life. Priscilla was a spiritual mother and sister. Paul declares that Priscilla hosted a house church. Priscilla opened up her home and emulated motherly love, care, and direction in the way of the Lord. Priscilla was a sister like figure and good friend to Paul as a co-worker on the same team with Paul in Christ. Priscilla also educated others in the way of God. Priscilla was a teacher of teachers including Apollos who was a learned Jewish theologian. Today, Priscilla mirrors female seminary professors, school teachers, and mothers who are educating and rising up the next generation of change makers.

Pastor Tammy Long spoke on the hidden female figure of Hagar. Hagar was an Egyptian slave for Sarai, who was barren. Sarai wanted to provide her husband Abram with an heir, so she gave Hagar to Abram as a surrogate.  After Hagar became pregnant, Sarai mistreated and despised Hagar. Hagar fled from Sarai, so Hagar was unseen.  Even when Hagar was unseen in hardship, God loves and cares for Hagar. The angel of God saw her, tells her to name her son Ishmael, whose descendants will be too numerous to count and also to return to Sarai. Hagar responded, “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).  Hagar named God as El Roi, meaning the God who sees. In Genesis 21 (15 -17 years later), after Sarai had given birth to Isaac in her old age, Sarah sees Ishmael mocking Isaac. Sarah demanded that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away.  God saw and heard Hagar’s cries for help in her despair.  No one is hidden from God. When we feel invisible, God sees completely with loving eyes of care, hears, calling each of us by name, and walking with us every step of the way. We are blessed by the God who sees. As mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunties, and all who care for the next generation, God sees our children. In God’s eyes, no one is invisible.