Hagar

Hagar was a woman who was put into a difficult situation that she did not choose. In the midst of her difficulties God saw her though and protected her, guided her, and took care of her.

Hagar was the Egyptian maidservant of Sarai. When Sarai could not bare children of her own, she came up with the brilliant (sarcasm) plan to give Hagar to Abram as a wife so that she could bare him a son.

So she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Genesis 16:2

When Hagar knew that she was pregnant she began to despise Sarai (Gen. 16:4.) Of course this didn’t make Sarai very happy and she began to mistreat Hagar. Hagar did what most people would do in that sort of situation, she ran away from her problems.

An angel of the Lord found Hagar in the desert. She tried to run away, but God still saw her. He knew exactly where she was, what her hearts motive was, and what her situation was.

And he said to her, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Genesis 16:8  

The angel instructed her to submit to Sarai and go back. Hagar was a servant, and when she became pregnant she got a little too big for her britches. As a servant, her place was to submit. This makes me think about times when we have to submit to someone that we may not want to. It may be a boss, a parent, a spouse, a church leader, whoever, sometimes we get a bit too big for our britches when really it is our place to serve in submission.

The angel told Hagar that her descendant would be increased in a way that they would be too many too count. This blessing came with the instruction that she was to submit though. Hagar was obedient and did as she was instructed to do and returned.

God saw Hagar. She recognized this and this is what she did:

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” Genesis 16:13

God saw her and He sees us too. He may not appear to us in the same way that He appeared to Hagar, but that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t see us.

Hagar had her son and gave him the name that the Lord had told her to give him, Ishmael. When Ishmael was older and after Sarah had given birth to Isaac, there was discord between Sarah and Hagar once again. Ishmael was mocking Isaac, which didn’t make momma Sarah very happy. She insisted that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. Abraham didn’t want to do this to his son and Hagar, but God assured him that they would be taken care of.

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. Genesis 21:14

The provision ran out though and Hagar thought that would be the end of them. She began to weep for her son. Once again God saw her. He sent an angel to reassure her that they would survive. God opened her eyes and there she saw a spring of water. He provided for them in just the right time. Remember, He is the God Who Sees!