Hagar, at the end of herself, saw God

(c) Deborah Evans

Hagar's story (beginning in Genesis 16 and ending in Genesis 21) is a story about injustice to and enslavement of women in the ancient world. Hagar's story also tells us how God loves those considered disposable and unimportant. Hagar's story is complex..

Read Genesis 16 through 21.

As you read the story, you will learn how Sarah, Hagar's owner and mistress, manipulated and misused Hagar. Early in the story, Hagar runs away and God tells Hagar to go back. Was God endorsing slavery? In this case, God had a plan, a timed plan, that delayed (but not denied) Hagar's departure. Sarah urges her husband Abraham to have intercourse with Hagar. Sarah is hoping to "take and own" any male child resulting from this interaction. Abraham follows Sarah's urging and a child, Ishmael, is born by Hagar. Eventually, in light of God's promise, Sarah and Abraham have a son of their own named Isaac.

As time passes, Sarah is offended by the actions and mannerisms of Hagar and Ishmael. Sarah urges Abraham to throw Hagar and Ishmael out of the house and send them away. There is no social safety net in the ancient world. The Bible tells us Abraham was "disturbed" about this because Ishmael was his son and what Sarah was urging might lead to the death or re-enslavement of Hagar and Ishmael. There is no mention of anyone's concern for Hagar's well-being.

God tells Abraham to do as Sarah wishes, and Abraham does. God loves all people equally and God has a plan for Hagar and Ishmael that doesn't involve slavery and abuse. Even when the two are sent away with only minimal supplies and no back up support or aid, God hasn't forgotten them.

Finally, after running out of water in the desert, Hagar is so distraught she puts her young son under some bushes and observes him from a distance. She can't tolerate watching Ishmael die. It looks like the end of everything. 

This is how Hagar's story ends in Genesis:

Genesis 21:17-21: 

"God heard the boy crying, and an angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, 'What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.' Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. When he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt."

When she was at the end of herself and at the end of all she had, God called to Hagar. God spoke to Hagar. God gave Hagar instructions, and Hagar followed God's instructions. Even more, Ishmael had God's promise of greatness. Ishmael returned to his mother's people. Both of them were made truly free by God, and were removed from their second class status. God's timing set the stage for their success. Hagar's obedience (listening to God, rejecting fear, following God's directions) made the path forward possible.

In the words of the angel, we learn a technique for success: 1. Identify and state what bothers you, 2. Reject fear, and 3. Obey God.

When she was at the end of herself, Hagar saw God.