The God Who Sees

Lets look at the story of Hagar in Genesis chapters 16 and 21. When we first meet Hagar, she is a maidservant to Sarai (Abram’s wife). Sarai was infertile and desperately wanted a child. Even though God promised to give her and Abram a child, she took matters into her own hand. Sarai decides to use Hagar as a surrogate to provide her husband Abram with a child. This seems like an odd practice to us today, but it was actually an ancient custom in biblical times to ensure the birth of a male heir.

When Hagar learned she was carrying Abram’s child, she began to despise Sarai. When the relationship between the two women deteriorated, Sarai complained to her husband. Abram told Sarai that Hagar was hers to do with what she wanted. He wanted nothing to do with their dispute. Sarai took that as a permission to mistreat Hagar, so pregnant Hagar ran away. What she didn’t expect was an encounter with God.

The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” Gen. 16:7-9. The angel of the Lord also told her she would have a son and name him, “Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.” (Gen. 16:11). It was probably hard to hear that God wanted her to go back to Sarai but God gave her quite a promise that He would fulfill later. Hagar agreed to God’s plan and called the Lord, “The God who sees me, for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (Gen. 16:13).

Even in her lowly position in life, she was important to God and He hadn’t rejected or forgotten her. He heard her cries and saw her affliction. Remember, when it seems like others are rejecting you, God sees and hears you. He always accepts you. Hagar had the confidence and security in God to humbly return to Sarai and Abram and fulfill her role in biblical history.

Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! (Ps. 66:20)
The Lord will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession. (Ps. 94:14 )

Post Extracted from Liferunners Fiji Facebook Post dated 7th February 2024