Genesis 16:7-15, The Living Bible
The Angel of the Lord found her beside a desert spring along the road to Shur.
The Angel: “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
Hagar: “I am running away from my mistress.”
The Angel: “Return to your mistress and act as you should, for I will make you into a great nation. Yes, you are pregnant and your baby will be a son, and you are to name him Ishmael (‘God hears’), because God has heard your woes. This son of yours will be a wild one—free and untamed as a wild ass! He will be against everyone, and everyone will feel the same toward him. But he will live near the rest of his kin.”
Thereafter Hagar spoke of Jehovah—for it was he who appeared to her—as “the God who looked upon me,” for she thought, “I saw God and lived to tell it.”
Later that well was named “The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me.” It lies between Kadesh and Bered.
So Hagar gave Abram a son, and Abram named him Ishmael.
‘Beside a desert spring.’
In more ways than one,
I’ll wager.
It is never an easy job
to be anyone’s servant.
Never.
But back then?
I cannot even imagine.
But this feisty girl knew her limits,
and she got outta there.
Fast.
She was alone, however.
In the desert.
Pregnant.
And then something
strange and wonderful
happens:
She is seen.
She is heard.
Is there any gift on earth
better than that one?
Even when the word is
‘return,’
even when that is the
very last thing
she wants.
Still.
The gift was being seen.
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Your poem makes me think: Hagar wasn’t seen by just anyone. She was seen by GOD Almighty! We humans can get mighty excited about being seen by a celebrity. A handshake, a word or two–and we’re telling the story to anyone who’ll listen. But to be seen by God, to have him hear our cries and respond? Such attention is beyond comprehension. And yet we enjoy it every day. Praise God for his gracious, loving kindness to us! And thank you, Diana, for inspiring that praise.
Indeed, Nancy! She was seen by God. Amazing stuff, right?
I love that Hagar was given the privilege of “naming” God –“The God who looked upon me.”
And who better to do it?
None of us is invisible to God. This reminder, today, is your gift to us, Diana.
Indeed, Nancy! She was seen by God. Amazing stuff, right?
Well, this one went to the wrong space – sorry, Nancy. But I’ll also comment back to Michele while I’m here. What a great thing to notice, Michele. Thank you so much.
Another timely reminder that God sees us, knows us, hears us, even when we think He doesn’t. I love, too, in this story that Hagar must do what she dreads (going back to Sarai), yet is given the promise of God’s presence being there with her, not to mention the promise of a son.
Great post, Diana!