Have you ever felt dismissed, devalued, ignored, or cast aside? If you have, you’re not the only one. In this blog called The God Who Sees, we're going to take a deep dive into the story of Hagar in the Bible. In her story, we'll find hope for our own situations and faith in a God who cares for us deeply and eternally.
"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe." Augustine of Hippo
“Genesis” comes from the Greek word meaning “origin”. Although the author and date of the book are not conclusively agreed, Genesis has been traditionally ascribed to Moses. It is an ancient and holy text all about beginnings and generations. Think of Genesis as the front end of God’s grand narrative. It is the opening act of the incredible story of creation, sin and redemption that still impacts every part of our lives today.
Today’s passage is Genesis 16:7–13. This is the story of Hagar, Sarai’s servant: 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.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility towards all his brothers.”She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” -Genesis 16:7–13
Have you ever felt dismissed, devalued, ignored, or cast aside? If you have, you’re not the only one. You’re so far from being alone. Hagar would have likely put her hand up for all four of these painful feelings. Overwhelmed by confusion and despair, her identity was in crisis.
Stolen from her Egyptian life and enslaved, Hagar had faithfully followed Abram and his wife Sarai across the sun-scorched wilderness for years. When Sarai was unable to bear a child, Abram used her instead, impregnating Hagar with his firstborn son. However, instead of being celebrated for carrying Abram’s child, Hagar was rejected for it. The news of the birth brought tension into the family, reminding Sarai of her emptiness. Whispers turned to scorn, and Sarai’s jealousy eventually erupted into blinding fury. She treated Hagar harshly, and Hagar couldn’t cope. The young slave girl ran, pregnant and vulnerable, into the unforgiving desert.
Can you imagine the despair, shame, and confusion Hagar must have felt as she sat, desperately alone, in the unwavering heat? Imagine her fears and insecurities as she processed all she had just experienced. Hagar had experienced a life of brokenness, injustice, separation, and disruption—a cascade of events that were out of her control. Who even was she at this point? What was her purpose? Why had all this happened to her? Hagar’s identity was shattered. She was lost.
Your story might look different today, but maybe you can relate to these feelings. Dismissed. Devalued. Cast aside. Maybe you’re at a point where you’re wondering if anyone understands what you’re going through. You feel like a rudderless ship drifting at sea. No one gets it. No one sees you. Well, this is where the tide turns. This is where God enters the story.
One beautiful, timely whisper from heaven breathed life into Hagar’s despair. “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count,” the angel declared. In an instant, God spoke into Hagar a hope, a future, and a legacy. The Lord met her in her pain, validated her experience, and reminded her of His plan for her life. It was all Hagar needed to hear. “You are the God who sees me,” she joyously replied.
Once an invisible maid, the slave girl stood tall. She suddenly knew who she was in God’s eyes. The desert was no longer her prison but the cradle of her son’s destiny. Hagar’s identity was reborn. It’s a stirring story. When you realise God sees you, really sees you, it changes everything. Your identity and personhood become anchored in Him. And just as God saw Hagar, He sees you today. Whatever you’re going through,.
So let’s close by engaging in a time of listening prayer. One whisper from heaven is all you need to remind you of your true identity. You’re seen. You’re known. And you’re a child of God. Let’s close in prayer together: Heavenly Father, amid my scattered distractions, I am here to simply listen. In this quiet moment, I ask that you speak to me, comfort me, and give me your peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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