Hagars Plight

Hagar’s Plight

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 Sixteen we read about an Egyptian woman named Hagar who was a maidservant 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 is 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 that 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 in 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 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 that 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.

What About You? 1. What are you facing that feels as if everyone including God has left you? 2. Are you willing to listen to Gods direction for you even if it doesn't make sense?