Hagar

Hagar is first introduced in Genesis 16.  She is the Egyptian slave to Sarah, Abraham’s wife. As you listen to this passage, keep in mind that Sarah’s name was changed from Sarai to Sarah and Abraham’s name was changed from Abram to Abraham, so it can get confusing. 

Let’s go back a few chapters to Genesis 12 to set the stage here for our story on Hagar. God told Abraham he would make a great nation from him.  He does not have any children and at this point Sarai is suffering from infertility and advanced age. They are getting nervous about God’s promise so they try to take matters into their own hands.

Genesis 16 Verses 1 - 4 read

16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar;  so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

Abram agreed to what Sarai said.  So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.

Prior to these verses, we don’t know much about Hagar other than she was an Egyptian slave.  I highly doubt she had any say in this union or plan with Abraham but I do also wonder if she secretly wanted a child like Sarah did at this time. We don’t know her full story, so of course, this is an assumption based on this time period where women often feel shameful if they do not have a child. God obviously has a plan for her but this would be a tough time for her. There has to be a million things going through her mind with this whole situation.

In verses 5-6 we read specifically about Hagar who is the she that is referred to

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.

These verses help us to visualize that Hagar is pregnant yet despises Sarai. Why do you think that is? Is she thinking that she might have to turn the baby over to Sarah and that her baby would become Sarah’s baby? Some people have said that maybe Hagar was boastful to Sarah about being able to conceive so quickly so a lot of animosity developed between the two. Whatever the case, Sarah mistreats her and so grows resentment and she runs. 

How many times have you been in a tough situation and instead of turning to God, you ran away? I think this was a natural, earthly, reaction. Hagar has to be scared and is holding onto a variety of emotions throughout this process. She is pregnant, possibly could lose her child, being mistreated, and feels as if she has no one.

She feels alone.  We have all at times felt along but we must remember God is always with us. Sometimes we want to be alone and we want to run from our problems and from God but as 

Psalm 139:7 reads 

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

You can’t run from God and He doesn't want you to.  He loves us and wants to help us.  He has a plan for our lives and He has a plan for Hagar.

Although she feels she has no one and she does not turn to God, we see in the rest of the chapter that God comes to her. 

In verses 7-15  it tells us that the angel of the Lord finds her and tells her to go back to Sarah and submit to her. It shares that if she does, He will increase her descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count. Hagar must be a special person for God to speak directly to her. He specifically uses her name.  He shows she matters to him.  She now has a personal relationship with God.  Isn’t that what we all want?  If we study our Bible and pray and take the time to reflect, we can hear God’s voice and know that we matter.

Why do you think God sent her back?  My guess is that Hagar was going to be more protected under Abrahams house than in the wilderness. She was on her own and pregnant. She needed help and the only place for that help was to go back. This is a strong, brave woman.  One of my favorite verses in the Old Testament is verse 13.

13 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.” 

Did you know that Hagar is the first person in the Old Testament to be visited by an angel and the only person in the Old Testament that gives God a name? In Genesis 16:13, Hagar says "You are the God who sees me"

Wow!  Let’s think about this for a minute.  She is not an Isrealite, she has no money, no status, she is a slave with nothing yet God sees her and uses her in His story.  My friends, this is not by accident. 

Luke 12:7 reads 

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

We matter to God.  You matter to God.  Individually as a person no matter what your status or background or sins, you matter to God.  Hagar mattered to God. 

Sometimes I overthink this.  Of all the millions of people on planet earth, I matter to God?  "I can imagine hearing God say, "Yes. You matter. That is why I put this story of Hagar in the Bible. No matter her background, situation, or outlook for the future. She mattered to me and so do you!"

Continuing with our story, we then see that Hagar has a son and names him Ismael.  Ismael is considered the ancestor of the Ishmaelites, often associated with the Arab people.  God fulfilled his promise to Hagar. Ismael became the father of a great nation.

What can we learn from Hagar?  Again, the most important thing we can learn is that God sees you and He sees me just as He saw Hagar. You matter and He has a plan for you.

Remember, Proverbs 5:21-23 says:  "The Lord sees everything you do. Wherever you go, he is watching"

This story offers us hope.  God hears our prayers, He knows our needs, He loves us no matter who we are.

This woman starts as a lonely nobody and ends as a woman of courage and resiliency that trusts God and is part of a huge plan. Her son is the father of a great nation!