Story of Hagar

Read Genesis 16:6-16

Here we have this brief tangent to this story of Hagar, a deviation from the main narrative of God fulfilling his promise to Abram. This brief tangent tells us of Abram and Sarai’s ploy to help God fulfill his promise to them.

Hagar becomes a participant, better yet the main instrument or vessel for this act of unbelief. Her mention in the Bible is one detailing her complicity in distrusting God and also hating the family whom God has chosen. Sarai was the wife of the great patriarch himself.

Surely God would be angry at her for participation in such an act. When God has just preserved Sarai’s womb from Pharaoh in Egypt, Hagar uses hers to subvert the plan of God.

She is not part of the promise, she was not God’s chosen way to fulfill it. And after Sarai mistreats her she runs away. Surely wouldn’t God be glad about this? Wouldn’t he want this problem removed from him and his plan? But instead he comes to Hagar tell us her to return, and that he will bless her offspring.

Why would he bless that offspring which was conceived contrary to his plan? Why would he show love and compassion to one who was complicit in this plan to subvert the plan of God?

Exodus 34:6

⁶ The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

God’s first reaction is always mercy and compassion. People can create this line between the God of the Old Testament and the New Testament. The God of wrath and the God of love. But in reality God has always been full of love and kindness. He has always shown favour to those who are weak.

God does not show favour and kindness to you because you deserve it or are worthy it. He shows it to you because you are weak. The weaker you are the more deeply you will know his love and grace. The weaker you are before him, the more deeply you will know like Hagar, that God is a God who sees you.

He knows your limitations, your failings, your weaknesses. He knows because he made us, he sees us, he knows us, and he will supply all the strength we need. Do not rely upon yourself, but rely upon the compassion and grace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

“Father, thank you that you first response is always mercy and compassion. You are so unlike us. We are so quick to resort to anger and frustration. How I pray I would be more like you. As you teach me more about yourself, would I become more like you. More patient, more merciful, more compassionate. Do this please, I pray in Jesus name, Amen.