Many times, in Scripture reading our eyes can be blinded by natural prejudice. The account of the woman Hagar could be one such instance. Hagar is a blight on Abraham’s testimony of faith. Hagar’s offspring Ishmael would become an adversary to the nation of Israel even unto this day. However, in spite of all this, God is not a respecter of persons. He is a God of mercy and grace. The following account of Scripture should be a precious story in our eyes as we see God encounter and care for a woman who is unwanted, unnoticed, and even despised by the world around her.
But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram. (Genesis 16:6-16)
God Finds.
“And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.”(Genesis 16:7) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10) What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? (Luke 15:4)
Hagar was a victim of circumstances. She was sold as a slave in Egypt, now pregnant, and driven from her master’s household and left to die in the desert, but God in His grace finds the unwanted who are perishing in wilderness. Like the lowly woman at the well in John 4, the Lord found Hagar as well by a source of water and revealed Himself to her.
God Hears.
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. (Genesis 16:11)
God instructed Hagar what to name her child. The name Ishmael means, “God hears.” Hagar was ignored by Abraham and blamed by Sarah but heard by God. The Lord hears the cries of the afflicted.
God Sees.
“…Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi;” (Genesis 16:13)
Hagar was transformed by the truth that God was seeking, hearing, and seeing her. She would obediently, by faith, turn back and submit herself to her mistress Sarah.
We can learn from the lesson of Hagar that no matter how obscure, unwanted, or outcast you are in the eyes of man you are precious to God! You are sought, heard, and seen!
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.(Matthew 10:29-31)