Have you ever felt God’s sustaining grace that lets you know you’re not alone during tough times?
Hagar’s story is one that is not often told, but it is a beautiful story of the Lord’s grace and sustaining power in the midst of life’s most trying times. Hagar was the Egyptian slave who bore Abraham’s first son Ishmael. She was assigned to work specifically for Sarah, Abraham’s wife who couldn’t have children. Hagar was Sarah’s property, she was a slave so her wants did not matter. Because Sarah could do whatever she wanted with her she decided to make Hagar have sex with Abraham so she could get pregnant and Sarah could have the child.
When it seems like nobody cares about your feelings, know that God cares, He sees and He hears.
The Bible never says how Hagar felt about being forced to sleep with a man who was not her husband nor does it say how she felt about the fact that she would not get to keep her own son. However, after Hagar conceived the Bible says that she became patronizing and demeaning with Sarah. The story goes on to say that Sarah talked to Abraham about Hagar’s new attitude and he told his wife to deal with Hagar as she saw fit. Sarah treated Hagar so mean after that she finally ran away.
But the angel of the Lord found her and said:
“Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied. The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.” And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. Genesis 16:8-11
She named the place where the Lord met her, “Beer-lahai-roi” which means “well of the Living One who sees me.”
After the child was born Sarah also conceived and bore the child of promise, Isaac. When Isaac was a toddler Hagar and Ishmael became jealous of him and Sarah wanted them gone for good. It hurt Abraham but the Lord comforted him with the same promise He’d given Hagar while she was pregnant. So Abraham made Hagar and his son leave the camp with a little food and water.
The Lord met Hagar as she was wandering in the wilderness again and He spoke to her again. He told her to speak to her son about his future, He gave them water to drink and directed them to the place they would settle and prosper.
Even in her deepest, darkness and greatest struggles the Lord never left Hagar.
At every turn He was there. He gave her a promise she could hold onto. He sustained her and refreshed her so that she could continue her journey.
Though it was Sarah who was called to bear the child of promise the Lord did not forget about Hagar. He had a plan for her too. When others discarded her God accepted her and comforted her. He heard her cry. He knew exactly where she was, what she was going through and what she needed to make through the wilderness and into the new place He had for her.
The bad things that happened to her were not part of God’s plan.
They were the plans of flawed human beings. But because He loved Hagar He took the bad things that happened to her and made them work for her good.Beloved, Just like He was with Hagar He will be with you. Though there may be times that you feel alone, you are not. God is with you and if you dare cry out He will answer you and guide you to the good place He has for you.
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