Scripture Reference: Genesis 16:1-8
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. 3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. 4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me.”6 So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
What do we know about the wilderness? It is a place overgrown by nature, with very few people, if any. It is not considered to be suitable for farming. Instead, it seems like vast acres of wasteland. It may be inhabited by wildlife, thus depicting danger and a scarcity of food and water. One would be apprehensive about residing in that unwelcoming space. Its characteristic denseness and loneliness make it repelling for habitation. Such was the place of Hagar’s confinement.
She was a slave to Sarai, Abram’s wife. As such, she had no civil rights, except what she could be afforded by her mistress. Her duties were delegated by her keeper. That means that even her body did not belong to her. She could not do as she pleased. If she were given a command to, “Jump!”, her only response would be, “Yes, Ma’am. How high?”
When Abram was instructed to leave Haran, God told him to travel to an unspecified destination, (Genesis 12:1-4). The expected end would be an innumerable offspring. That did not happen in a timely manner, so there began Hagar’s plight. Colossians 4:1 specifies how Hagar should have been treated. One of her main duties was to protect Sarai’s honor, so she was content to be a slave.
It stands to reason then that she was ordered to accompany Abram to bed. Sarai was barren and thought it a good idea for 86-year-old Abram to father a child, since God had promised him eleven years earlier, that he would produce a great nation. (Genesis 12:2). Sarai was sure that it was time for God’s promise to be materialized. In her mind, she was only offering help.
Hagar was dragged into a situation that branded her the third party in a marriage. Sarai’s decision to use and abuse her resulted in unpredictable circumstances! She prided herself on becoming a mother. Surely, Abram and Sarai would celebrate with her for fulfilling God’s promise. The resulting child would make Hagar feel accomplished about bringing an heir in the household. Instead, the green-eyed monster, Jealousy, reared its ugly head and Hagar found herself at the bitter end of Sarai’s frustration.
When we face a situation over which we have no control, we feel trapped between a rock and a hard place. That was Hagar’s reality. She did not seduce Abram. Since she was owned, she had no say in the matter when she was offered to Abram by his own wife. Let us take a moment and discuss Sarai’s possible thoughts now that Hagar was pregnant.
What were the ramifications? Naturally, Hagar was now privy to Sarai’s private time with Abram (Proverbs 30: 18-19.) Mixed emotions might have swirled in their heads. Did Hagar begin to feel like Sarai’s equal? Did she feel more accomplished than Sarai? Maybe Abram would switch his affection from Sarai to Hagar. With that mindset, and forgetting that she was still a slave, Hagar flaunted her achievement in Sarai’s face. (Hannah,1 Samuel 1: 6). Sarai did not appreciate this, so she began to treat Hagar unkindly.
The disappointment about Sarai’s envy caused Hagar to go away to the wilderness on her own. There, she encountered an Angel who told her to return to Sarai and submit to her and name her son, Ishmael. He would produce many generations and engage in great conflicts. With this, her response was, “You are the God who sees.” (Genesis 16:13).
The Angel caused Hagar to take inventory. Her spiritual awareness had to be awakened. She rested by a spring, an unending supply there in the wilderness, and her faith was renewed. She had gotten some alone time with God, who communicated with her and made her hopeful. In her uncertainty of life, except for the fact that Hagar saw her need for God’s intervention, she would not have agonized.
Sympathies are extended to Hagar’s predicament. She had served her purpose as a tool and was no longer wanted. Yet, the problem concerning the promised son remained. At this time, it was now twenty-four years since Abram had been given God’s promise concerning Isaac, and nothing had happened for Sarai. Then there was an unexpected turn of events.
Abram turned 100 years old and Isaac, the long-promised son, was born. New thoughts lingered in Hagar’s mind, but never in her wildest dream did she imagine that she would be discarded and deemed no longer necessary. Her expectations had been that she and her son, Ishmael, would be with Abram and Sarai for life.
Sarah could not accept the fact that the maid’s son lived under the same roof with her family. She projected that that was Abraham’s heir and who knows what would become of her. She had waited for 10 years before offering her maid to Abram. Then it would be 14 more years before she gave birth to Isaac. This new mom’s excitement kicked in. The old 14-year-old Ishmael had to go so that all the attention would be placed on her son, the promised child.
Although Sarah might have conceded that she did wrong in offering Hagar to her husband, did she expect him to think otherwise? Abraham, in order to appease Sarah, reluctantly decided that Hagar’s fate would be determined by his wife. With a heavy heart, he expelled Hagar from the home, with groceries (bread and water). This shocking plight plunged her into uncertainty, (Genesis 21:14). What was she to do?
Again, she went to the wilderness. She expected Ishmael to die there, and so she was devastated. How long would the bread and a bottle of water last? This teenager, a growing boy, needed more than that. Now, as a single Mom, thrust out of her home and her livelihood as Sarah’s maid, she needed to make a decision. Her last resort was to abandon her son when the bottle of water was empty, and the bread was finished. She would not witness his demise.
Had she forgotten the promise that was given to her on the first occasion when she left Sarai’s employment? Lonely, confused, depressed, hungry, and afraid were Hagar’s reality. Her resolve was to weep. God understands that language also and sent an angel to console her. Very important information was given to her again. Ishmael would not die but would become the father of a great nation, (Genesis 21:18), just like Abram’s promise in Genesis 12:2.
This time God heard both her and Ishmael’s cry. An Angel assured her that her son, Ishmael, would not die. She knew the ways of Yahweh, especially after witnessing a 25-year-old promise being fulfilled for Abraham and Sarah, (Genesis 21:1-3).
How difficult it must have been for Hagar to travel by faith! Was that the same Hagar that said that God saw her in the wilderness, on the first occasion when she left? It was there that she was given a promise concerning her child. The words given to her back then, would come to fruition because God holds His Word in high regard. Had she forgotten?
In our wilderness, do we remember God’s promises to us? He is with us, (Isaiah 41:10). There is the provision of refreshing communication, renewed hope, freedom from oppression, peace of mind, and His presence when we need it most.
Hagar did not expect to be ultimately forsaken. She had served her mistress well. No doubt, she expected to receive lifelong security. Happiness was supposedly provided in the household. For thirteen years, she had nothing to worry about. Then for nine additional months her contentment took a turn.
Surely, things would be different, but to what extent? An Angel comforted her and told her to hold her son. There is something special about a mother’s touch. At the point of contact, she got clarity of vision. She saw a well of water and quenched her son’s thirst. The wilderness proved to work in their favor. Ishmael was being groomed to become a nation. Alternately, that was where he developed his career, got married and decided to make his home, (Genesis 21:20-21).
Farthest from Hagar’s mind was Genesis 50:20. She did not know that the making of a nation was being propelled in the wilderness for the fulfillment of a promise. What she birthed would later produce twelve sons, (Genesis 17: 20; and 25: 12-16), thus, forming the Arab nation. Even when we kick and scream, what is not yet revealed to us may be concealed in our wilderness.
Dr.O.A.James
REFLECTION
On the surface, a wilderness experience seems to have negative connotations. Discuss.