Hagar's Plight

Genesis 16

It is an awful feeling to feel as if you have been used by someone solely

for their own desires and or purposes. To feel as though someone has used

you to get what they wanted, then to have them push you aside, can cause you

to feel anger, hurt, sadness, and above all rejection.

In Genesis chapter 16 we read about an Egyptian woman named Hagar

who was a maid-servant to Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Now Sarah and Abraham

had been promised a child by God, but as many years passed, and her still not

conceiving, frustration settled in and Sarah devised her own plan. The plan

was to have Abraham sleep with Hagar with the hope and intent of getting

her pregnant, which would, for Sarah, make her feel as though she was able to

start her family through her. Abraham agreed to Sarah’s plan and Hagar

conceived. Once Hagar knew she was pregnant, the Bible says she started to

despise Sarah. Surely this started to affect the way she spoke and acted to

Sarah. The situation became so intense that Sarah ended up going to Abraham

with it and his answer was for Sarah to handle it the way she wanted. The

Bible does not say what was said between Sarah and Hagar, but we do know

Hagar ended up running away to the desert. While she was there she was

visited by an angel of the Lord who asked her where she had come from and

where was she going. Hagar responded truthfully by saying she was fleeing

from her mistress Sarah. The angel then told her she was to go back to Sarah

and submit to her authority. The angel also told Hagar that she was going to

give birth to a son, that she was to name him Ishmael, and what kind of man

he would grow up to be. The Bible goes on to say that Hagar gave the Lord

the name – “You are the God who sees me.” For she said, “I have now seen

the One who sees me.” Hagar then left that desert place, went home as

directed, and eventually gave birth to a son, whom she named Ishmael.

Although this story is hard for us to comprehend, this situation was a

common practice in those days. However, though it may have been the

common practice does that mean every woman was always “ok” with it?

Remember, for people like Hagar who were maidservants they had no say

about it, for they were under the authority of their mistresses, for they were

the servants. So, as a woman, how would you feel if that were to happen to

you? How would you feel if one day you were told, although it may be legal

and or the custom, you were going to be used to have a baby without your approval? How would it feel to know someone else’s husband was going to

come to you in the hopes of getting you pregnant?

What about the moment you found out you were pregnant and basically

pregnant for someone else- how would that feel? I believe that a lot of women

would feel anger, sadness, maybe some jealousy, and perhaps, would even feel

a little used. This would then result in a bad attitude, and perhaps, rightfully

so. Now Hagar’s actions obviously were not in accordance with the times and

customs in which she was living and that is why there arose such a conflict

between her and Sarah. The situation had to have grown so tense and so

stressful that it caused her to run away – to run away from everyone and

everything. Maybe she was also dealing with feelings of rejection by Abraham.

Who knows for sure, but either way, she was an emotional mess, as maybe we

ourselves would be. She was so distraught, she ran away to an isolated place to

get away, and in the end, she found out that one is never alone, rejected, or

without help.

The most important thing to learn from her story is what she herself said

and that is, “You are the God who sees me.” God was very much aware of

her, her situation and where she was at all times. He knew every thought that

was going through her head and every emotion she was feeling, and again He

met her where she was.

So, whatever you’re facing today that would cause you to want to run

away from it all, know that you are not alone and God sees you. Know

whatever it is that you are up against, He Himself has the answer, direction,

and encouragement you need. Know that for you, just like Hagar - He is the

One who sees you.

From The Noble Woman Book, by Gina Burns.