The 16th chapter of Genesis is definitely 16 of my favorite verses of scripture. Not even for normal reasons either. Genesis is the absolute beginning of so many things. The world and mankind to name a couple. In this particular place though we see the Mother and Father of the entire faith. The beginning of us as the Body of Christ. Chapter 16 is before they were Abraham and Sarah. They were still Abram and Sarai. Abram had been given a promise by God already. A promise of prosperity for generations to come. A promise too numerous to count just as the stars in the sky.
I love this chapter though not because of Abram and Sarai. I love it because of the slave in the middle of their promise. Her name is Hagar. Hagar is a part of Abram’s wealth. She is an Egyptian slave and servant to Sarai. Sarai decides that God needs some help with the promise He made her husband. The promise of a bountiful and prosperous lineage. Offspring for days. Sarai cannot see how that promise can be fulfilled because she cannot conceive. This is where Hagar comes into play. Sarai is willing to help God fulfill the promise of a prosperous lineage for her and Abram by offering Hagar as a surrogate. She gives her slave to her husband to fulfil the duty of conceiving offspring. They are successful and Hagar becomes pregnant. Upon conceiving, Sarai becomes what the Word of God calls contemptible to Hagar…
The clash between the two women caused Hagar to RUN. Physically, literally RUN. Not escape in her mind. Not run and hide somewhere where she could be tracked down. She ran away from the place she knew. The place she worked. The place she worked. I am unsure of the relationship between Sarai and Hagar before the pregnancy. But she wasn’t trying to run away. I am also unsure if Hagar was aware of the promise given to Abram and how huge it was. Sarai feels pressure by not being able to conceive and pulls Hagar into the mix. Hagar is a bit of a bystander yet Sarai’s pressure bleeds down to her. That’s intense. It’s also a bit unfair.
This place in scripture is not usually explained or even considered by way of Hagar feeling pressure. Or, the situation being unfair to Hagar. Hagar was merely a slave carrying out the responsibilities her mistress made her responsible for.
Have you ever found yourself to be a bystander in the midst of someone else’s pressure?
Have you ever been involved in and affected by someone’s actions made in haste or poor decision making?
Have you ever run away?
I can answer “yes” to all of these questions. These types of situations can be traumatic and have lasting effects. They definitely did for Hagar.
So, where were we? Ahh, yes, Hagar RUNS… As Hagar is running from everything she knows she collides with an angel of the Lord. This messenger questions her as if he doesn’t know where she has come from and where she is going. He even calls her by name. Isn’t that just like God though? To have us question ourselves and say the quiet part out loud. Hagar has to admit what she’s doing. And then the messenger has to give her some hard guidance. He tells her to return to where she just fled from and who she just fled from.
The awesome part comes after the instruction though. He tells her all about the child she is carrying. Receiving a Word from the Lord confirms that God sees her and looks after her.
My focus is here, verses 13-14, this week because the revelation that God sees you is profound. Realizing that you are seen by God is very personal. I’ve had moments like this in my life where it has been undeniable that I was seen by God. In moments of sadness, fear, anger, and uncertainty. I can truly relate to running. I have tried to run away from hardship and situations where I had no idea how things would turn out. I have even tried to run away from God. I thought that I was beyond His acceptance. Yet, He showed up. And God has a way of showing up in profound ways. Here for Hagar, a messenger straight from God speaks to her.
God sees us whether we are the Mother and Father of the faith or a slave. He sees YOU!
Keep going y’all.
xoxo – Pastor Dawana