There is a story in the Old Testament about a man and his wife who wanted to have a child, probably many children, but the woman was barren. Despite all signs pointing to the contrary, God promised the man he would have a son and as many descendants as the stars in the sky. You have probably heard the story of Abram and Sarai, who were later named Abraham and Sarah. If not, I will fill in the details for you, which in America today would be considered scandalous or even criminal.
But in that day, the suggestion Sarai made to her husband and his agreement to sleep with her servant in order to have a child through Hagar was likely culturally acceptable. This arrangement created problems between Sarai and her servant, however, and caused Hagar to run away. I have done Bible studies and heard sermons that focus on Abram and Sarai's lack of faith to believe Sarai could be the one to bear a child to Abram, as later happened, but I want to look at another part of the story. What happened when Hagar ran away, why did she come back, and whom did she encounter during this time of crisis?
First of all, a little background: Hagar was a slave from Egypt. She was Sarai's maid. Considering Sarai's trust of Hagar to be the one to bear her husband a child, I am guessing Hagar was a faithful, dutiful servant. There is no hint in the narrative of any problems between Hagar and Sarai before this decision was made. But afterwards, when Hagar learned she was pregnant, the text says she no longer respected Sarai and likely became disobedient. Whether this was because she saw herself as being more valuable than a mere slave because she was Abram's wife now too and could give him something Sarai couldn't, or because she hated Sarai for putting her in that position is unclear; but the mistress-servant relationship was lost.
Hagar didn't serve Sarai as she once had and Sarai became harsh with her, causing Hagar to run away. When Hagar came to a well in the wilderness, she stopped and an angel met her there. This reminds me of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman by a well. When He spoke to her and asked for a drink, she responded with "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (John 4:9) In that day, Jewish men typically did not associate with Samaritans, let alone a woman. And in Hagar's day I don't think an angel of Yahweh approaching a slave-woman was commonplace either. Abram and Sarai were royalty, worthy of such a visit, but a maid was just a slave.
Hagar's reaction to the encounter isn't clear at first. The messenger asks her, "Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?" (Genesis 16:8) Hagar responds truthfully and the angel instructs her to go back and be submissive to her mistress, then speaks prophetically, telling her she will have a son and many descendants, more than she can count, just as God promised to Abram. At this point Hagar realizes who is speaking to her and declares, "You are the God who sees me." (v. 13)
Her words are similar to the woman at the well who after meeting Jesus told others, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" (John 4:29) In both cases the women knew their sins had been exposed, and yet they weren't threatened by that. If you are trying to hide your sin from God, don't bother. He already knows and He loves you anyway. Allow that truth to set you free. He sees you for who you really are, and that's okay!
Whether you have been wrong, wronged by others, or both, do you believe God sees you? Does He know your name? Does He know your plight? Does He know where you are coming from and where you are going? Does He know your fears, the lonely road you walk, the mistreatment you have suffered? Do you believe He comes to meet you on the journey of despair, heartbreak, confusion, and pain? Do you believe you are worth such love?
Considering that Hagar did go back, faithfully served her master, and endured more mistreatment later, I think she believed where her true value was found. Not in what she gained or gave in this arrangement; Not in how well she served or didn't; Not in what others thought of her; But in the God who saw her. She knew she mattered to Him, and that was enough.
But in that day, the suggestion Sarai made to her husband and his agreement to sleep with her servant in order to have a child through Hagar was likely culturally acceptable. This arrangement created problems between Sarai and her servant, however, and caused Hagar to run away. I have done Bible studies and heard sermons that focus on Abram and Sarai's lack of faith to believe Sarai could be the one to bear a child to Abram, as later happened, but I want to look at another part of the story. What happened when Hagar ran away, why did she come back, and whom did she encounter during this time of crisis?
First of all, a little background: Hagar was a slave from Egypt. She was Sarai's maid. Considering Sarai's trust of Hagar to be the one to bear her husband a child, I am guessing Hagar was a faithful, dutiful servant. There is no hint in the narrative of any problems between Hagar and Sarai before this decision was made. But afterwards, when Hagar learned she was pregnant, the text says she no longer respected Sarai and likely became disobedient. Whether this was because she saw herself as being more valuable than a mere slave because she was Abram's wife now too and could give him something Sarai couldn't, or because she hated Sarai for putting her in that position is unclear; but the mistress-servant relationship was lost.
Hagar didn't serve Sarai as she once had and Sarai became harsh with her, causing Hagar to run away. When Hagar came to a well in the wilderness, she stopped and an angel met her there. This reminds me of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman by a well. When He spoke to her and asked for a drink, she responded with "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (John 4:9) In that day, Jewish men typically did not associate with Samaritans, let alone a woman. And in Hagar's day I don't think an angel of Yahweh approaching a slave-woman was commonplace either. Abram and Sarai were royalty, worthy of such a visit, but a maid was just a slave.
Hagar's reaction to the encounter isn't clear at first. The messenger asks her, "Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?" (Genesis 16:8) Hagar responds truthfully and the angel instructs her to go back and be submissive to her mistress, then speaks prophetically, telling her she will have a son and many descendants, more than she can count, just as God promised to Abram. At this point Hagar realizes who is speaking to her and declares, "You are the God who sees me." (v. 13)
Her words are similar to the woman at the well who after meeting Jesus told others, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" (John 4:29) In both cases the women knew their sins had been exposed, and yet they weren't threatened by that. If you are trying to hide your sin from God, don't bother. He already knows and He loves you anyway. Allow that truth to set you free. He sees you for who you really are, and that's okay!
Whether you have been wrong, wronged by others, or both, do you believe God sees you? Does He know your name? Does He know your plight? Does He know where you are coming from and where you are going? Does He know your fears, the lonely road you walk, the mistreatment you have suffered? Do you believe He comes to meet you on the journey of despair, heartbreak, confusion, and pain? Do you believe you are worth such love?
Considering that Hagar did go back, faithfully served her master, and endured more mistreatment later, I think she believed where her true value was found. Not in what she gained or gave in this arrangement; Not in how well she served or didn't; Not in what others thought of her; But in the God who saw her. She knew she mattered to Him, and that was enough.
