Hagar's story is found in Genesis 16 & 21
Even as a child I have always had a tendency to root for the underdog, however in our study of Sarah and Hagar this week, both of our women's lives are not perfect, and both have reasons enough for us to take pity on them.
- Both have unmet desires, or longings in their life.
- Both make mistakes.
- Both must deal with the consequences to their actions.
- Yet, both are cared for by God.
Sarah, whose name means, noble woman or princess was barren in a time when the primary role or a woman was to bear children. I can't imagine being so desperate as to offer my teenaged slave girl to my husband so that he could finally have an heir. Can you?
Hagar, whose name means, forsaken, stranger, flight or one that fears probably became a slave in Abraham's household while they were in Egypt . Imagine, as a teenager, being at the mercy of the whims of Sarah to the point of having to be impregnated by her husband, who by the way, was a very old man. The Bible never mentions Hagar ever loving Abraham, however,
When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.” “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. Genesis 16:5-6
Some of you reading this today can absolutely relate to Hagar fleeing from her situation. I'm sure all of us, if we're honest, have thought of ways we can escape a bad situation... quit your job, divorce, walking away from relationships, or current situations. Fleeing often seems more appealing than to stay and work to make things right. For Hagar, facing the possibility of death seemed more preferable than remaining under her mistress' care.
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” Genesis 16:7-10
This is the first time where we see the term "Angel of the Lord” mentioned in the Scriptures, and most theologians believe that this Angel may be a theophany, or Jesus in the Old Testament.
It's also interesting to note that when Hagar was lost, scare and alone, the Lord meets her near a spring where she was seeking refuge. God found her because she was never out of His sight. In spite of all Hagar's shortcomings God still had a plan for her life! When no one else seemed to care, God loved her, knew her need, and encouraged her to return and do the right thing.
I find it interesting that it was Hagar's attitude that started all this mess. Have you ever been there? Ever experienced a time when the consequence kept spiraling more and more out of control, growing worse and all anyone needed to do was to stop, repent, and go back to doing the right thing?
It's Hagar's reaction to the Angel of the Lord's command that I want you to see most,
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.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. - Genesis 16:13-14 (emphasis mine)
El Roi, is the One who sees YOU, and those forsaken. The One who knows the strangers, the down-trotted, brokenhearted, and unloved. He is the One who formed us in our mother's womb; who gives courage to the frightened, and enables us to go back and do the right things. He is the One who knew her name before the beginning of time and knew the great nation that would come from Hagar.
How powerful is that? He knows not only your name, but your future. The God who spoke planets into existence, sees us. And tells us we are the apple of His eye. -Zechariah 2:8
Are you running right now? Or tempted to flee, give up and in? Are there trials your facing that you wish you could get out from? I truly believe, if we aren't in a trial at the moment we will be one day and I pray Hagar's story will be a great example to all of us!
Blessings,
Sue