Hagar

Genesis 16

Hagar is not a part of Jesus’s line and ultimately her offspring brings forth the religion Islam. So why is it important to learn about her story? Because God found her important enough to include in His story. 

Hagar was Abram and Sarai’s servant. Since God had promised Abram and Sarai offspring and Sarai was getting old, she lost her patience and trust in God’s timing taking things into her own hands. She gave Hagar to Abram as a wife to bear a child. With Hagar being a servant, she herself and anything that came from her, including a child, would be considered the property of Abram and Sarai. It’s important to remember that this is not written as how it should be (not condoned by God), but is how it was given that sin had been unleashed into the world. 

After Hagar became pregnant, Sarai, in her jealousy, abused Hagar, driving her out into the wilderness. Hagar was just a servant. She was not one of God’s people, but yet she mattered in the eyes of God. 

While stranded in the wilderness, pregnant, likely hungry and sore and tired, Hagar heard from God. There are few times in the Bible where the pre-incarnate Jesus appears (the most well known instance perhaps being when He appeared in the fire with Radshack, Meshach, and Abednego). This just means that Jesus appeared in human form before being born as an infant in the New Testament. He is referred to as “the angel of the Lord” (Genesis 16:7). If this feels confusing, remember that Jesus and God are one and Jesus always was since the beginning of time (John 1:1-5).

The angel of the Lord finds Hagar in the wilderness and names her unborn child promising that He will multiply her offspring. He does this because He says, “the Lord has listened to your affliction” (Genesis 16:11b). Only God can make these promises. Her son who was given the name Ishmael was not the one promised to Abram and Sarai, yet God still heard Hagar’s affliction and cared for her and her child. 

Hagar was separated from God’s design, like we once were, yet God saw her. Because of our rebellion, we once were wandering aimlessly in the wilderness and God saw us and rescued us by sending His Son. God saw Hagar in her affliction (Genesis 16:13) and God sees us in ours. He seeks us out through His Son Jesus and gives us the promise of new life. 

Hagar’s story is so important because it shows us God’s sovereignty and grace. God is sovereign over all circumstances, despite our rebellion against Him. He gives grace upon grace despite us being undeserving. He calls us worthy to be saved, not because of our own doing, but because of His great love for us (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9). 

Jesus reaches out in our darkest moments and sees us, just as He saw Hagar.

When have you been in a dark place where Jesus sought you out? When have you felt seen by God?