I will be the first to admit that I've never focused much on the story of Hagar. Hers is a story of being overlooked and overshadowed. In the Bible, she is tied to the story of Abraham and Sarah, and for obvious reasons, their story overshadows Hagar's. BUT, that doesn't mean that just because she is a minor character that God can't show us great truths from her story. In fact, if history has proven anything to us, it is that God often uses the minor to make things major!
Hagar was the slave of Sarah. Sarah had given Hagar to Abraham to produce a child for him (Genesis 16:3). Sarah was great in age and did not believe herself capable of children but wanted Abraham to have descendants. After Sarah found out that Hagar was pregnant, which was what Sarah had wanted to happen in the first place, Sarah began to mistreat her. She mistreated her so much, that Hagar ran away.
It's here that Hagar's story really begins. Hagar was wandering in the wilderness when an angel came to her. Upon questioning where she was coming from and where she was going, Hagar admits to the angel that she is running away. Running away from the mistreatment, the shame, from injustice, from despair. Upon hearing her reply, the angel responded in a way that many of us might not have expected - he tells her to go back (Genesis 16:9)! Go back to the prejudice and injustice and despair. Go back to a mistress that doesn't appreciate her. Go back to a job that she isn't happy with. It's here that many might begin to question God's decision....why put someone through that? But in His great wisdom, God was planning out Hagar's redemption story. He promises that if she will return, He will multiply her offspring, so many so that she will not be able to count them all. He even tells her how to name her child.
Hagar's response to the angel is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. "So she named the Lord who spoke to her; 'You are El-roi' for she said, 'In this place, have I actually seen the one who sees me?'" (Genesis 16:13) Hagar may not have understood how or why her life had taken the turns that it did but she was certain after her encounter that she could face them with a new outlook and a promise for her life. She didn't have to tell God how bad things were or what injustices she had faced, God already knew....He had seen her! He knew what she had come from and He knew where she was going. How wonderful to know that God doesn't miss a step. He sees what we struggle with, He sees what grieves us, He doesn't allow us to hide from our problems - and yet He doesn't leave us alone. He is there always beside us, walking with us in love and truth, to help us navigate the trials of life and show us their purpose. How wonderful that God sees us just as we are, just where we are, but doesn't deem to leave us there!
If you are struggling, remember that Hagar's story is one of redemption and hope; she shows that we can come out of the wilderness that is life and fulfill our purpose for God's greater mission. She shows us that though we may struggle that God sees that struggle and will reward us for staying faithful and "fighting the good fight". She also reminds us that we have seen the One who sees us.
No comments:
Post a Comment