The God Who Sees

She was different.  She wasn't like the others.  This young girl had a place of prominence in the home of Abraham.  Hagar was Sarah's maidservant, and even though she had been "purchased," the position she held was one of honor and trustworthiness.

But all this changed, when Sarah - her "master" - became impatient with God.

God had promised a son to Abraham and Sarah years earlier, but the promise had not been yet fulfilled.  So, she decided to take matters into her own hands, and give Hagar to Abraham as a concubine.  Sarah's impatience and ultimate lack of trust in God, led to Hagar being thrust into a relationship that ultimately, they both probably regretted. 

It wasn't Hagar's fault.  She didn't deserve to be treated like a pawn in the lives of others, but it happened.

She became pregnant, and it was obvious that when she did, her feelings for Sarah changed.  Maybe she was angry that Sarah would claim her child as her own.  Maybe her pregnancy intensified her feelings of being "used."  Whatever the reason, Hagar began to "despise" Sarah.

Of course, Sarah didn't like this one bit.  She "dealt harshly with her," so Hagar "fled from her presence" (Gen. 16:6).   

And this is where I think the story really gets interesting.  You see, Hagar fled into the wilderness and ended up by a spring of water.  I'm sure by this time, a lot of the anger she had been experiencing was now melting away in her tears.  What would she do?  Where would she go?  She had no one - she thought - except the child who grew within her womb.  Then, she heard a voice:  "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?" (Gen. 16:8).

It was the Lord's voice, and get this, He didn't just speak to her...He called her by name!  She wasn't an Israelite.  She wasn't part of the Chosen Ones.  She was a foreigner...and yet, God spoke to her and called her by name.

She told Him she was fleeing her master, and the words He spoke in response, have tugged at me all week. You would think that God would put His arm around her and tell her everything would be alright.  You would think He'd commend her for remaining with Sarah so long, despite her treatment.  You would think God would snap His fingers and make everything okay.  Sure, Hagar had been angry with Sarah and probably a little nasty, but this situation wasn't her fault.  She had been thrust into servanthood, and now motherhood, without ever wanting either...at least not in this way.

Yet, God didn't remove her from the situation.  He didn't let her stay in the wilderness.  Instead, He told her to do something hard...to go back and "submit herself" under the hand of Sarah.

Why would He do that?  Why would He tell her to go back into the uncomfortable situation from which she had just fled?  

Not taking into account God's ultimate plan, the main reason she had to go back was that it was simply the right thing to do.  She "belonged" to Sarah.  Period.   God told her to do the right thing...the hard thing...and then He told her He would protect her and her son.  He told her that Ishmael would indeed, grow up and that her descendants would be as a multitude too difficult to count.

At this, "Hagar called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees" (Gen 16:13).
 

Hagar came to recognize that the God of Israel saw her in the midst of her hard situation - that He saw she had not asked for what life had given her - that His eyes were upon her... 

...and for Hagar, THAT was enough...

...enough to go back to Sarah...enough to endure the hostility and resentment...enough to live in a home of strife....enough to do the right thing and go home.   

Beloved of God, you probably won't find yourself in a situation exactly like Hagar's today, but you might find yourself running from one where you're being treated unfairly - a hard life that wasn't your fault.  Let me encourage you.  First off, God sees.  He sees you in the midst of your hard place, and He hasn't left you alone.   He sees your struggles.  He sees your heartaches.  He sees...and even though He may not take you out of that hard place, He has a plan.  Your job is to trust that and in response, to do the right thing... to be obedient to Him and not run away from the path He's chosen you to walk, no matter how difficult...to desperately search out His voice in the midst of all the others and obey it without reservation.

Sometimes, just the fact that He sees, has to be enough.     

I AM IN NO WAY advocating for you to remain in an abusive relationship.  I am advocating, however, for you not to run away from the hard place you find yourself in, just because it's hard...just because You haven't seen God show up yet.  He is there, my friend, and He sees you.

Jesus, today, I pray for those who find themselves THERE...who find themselves in places, not of their own making.  I pray that You would show Yourself to them - that You would come along side and comfort and encourage them that You do, in fact, see them - that their struggles have not gone unnoticed by You.  I pray they will be encouraged today to do the right thing in the face of those things that attempt to steal their joy and their lives.  You want to and can do this, Father.  Show Yourself to them, today.  I praise You, Lord...for You, alone are worthy.