Dear Hagar,
I’ve been reading about your life in the BOOK. Seems to me you had a rough one. Looks like a pretty raw deal to me.
You were Sarah’s servant. That means you lived to serve Sarah… all the time. When Sarah saw she wasn’t bearing children she used you as a piece of property to bear her a child. You had no say in the matter since she was your master. You got pregnant. You
hated Sarah for what had been done to you. Bearing a child to be raised by another woman....while you continued to be a servant. Who could blame you?
Then Sarah had her own kid…and she didn’t need yours anymore. From the beginning it has proved to always be trouble when two "wives" share the father of their children. Anger, jealousy, competition...oh boy! This was pretty intense in your case and Sarah insisted that you and your son be put out. This grieved your child’s father, Abraham’s heart. But GOD spoke to Abraham and Abraham sent you away...into the wilderness...with a sandwich, a bottle of water and the care of your son.
Wait a minute! You didn’t ask for this kid. You even once returned to Sarah, though she was treating you harshly during your pregnancy. Remember? That’s where you met GOD. That is where HE spoke to you by the spring in that wilderness.
Anyway, here you are now sent out into yet another wilderness with no provisions. How Sarah must have smirked when she saw you walking away. She had conquered again.
You wandered in the wilderness, it says, then ran out of water. So you set your son under a bush to die...you walked away and you cried. It says that GOD heard the voice of the lad crying in the wilderness...then GOD spoke to you. "What is the matter with you Hagar? Do not fear for GOD has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him by the hand for I will make a great nation of him."
Then GOD opened your eyes…. And you saw water!!!! You stood up. You gave some drink to your boy. You held his hand….you lifted him up… and you both lived ...in the wilderness.
You raised your son, alone in this wilderness. He did become a great nation. Just like GOD said.
Wow, Hagar. GOD Himself must have been your provider and HE must have been your protector and HE must have been your shield. HE must have taken what was meant for your destruction and OVERRULED it and turned it for good. HE must have or you both surely would have died there in that wilderness.
Well Hagar, that’s quite a story line. I can only imagine the daily details. But GOD did meet you through it all. And HE did do what HE said HE was going to do. And HIS plans were accomplished. And you didn’t die there in that wilderness. Your kid didn’t die in that wilderness. You lived, and you prospered, and you succeeded. And you Hagar, lived the rest of your life free.
Now your story has been written down for all to see. Thanks.
See You in Heaven,
Kim
*As a single mom, Hagar’s story in Genesis 21 has both annoyed me and astounded me. Although I wrote this several years ago at a pivotal point in my life, I can still relate to the raw emotions and honest expressions typed here. Bottom line is; however it is, that we as single mommas, find ourselves living in a wilderness…with little provision…and sole care our kids…GOD will be faithful to us! We will not die in that wilderness but we will live and tell what the LORD has done! Psalm 118:17.
I’ve been reading about your life in the BOOK. Seems to me you had a rough one. Looks like a pretty raw deal to me.
You were Sarah’s servant. That means you lived to serve Sarah… all the time. When Sarah saw she wasn’t bearing children she used you as a piece of property to bear her a child. You had no say in the matter since she was your master. You got pregnant. You
hated Sarah for what had been done to you. Bearing a child to be raised by another woman....while you continued to be a servant. Who could blame you?
Then Sarah had her own kid…and she didn’t need yours anymore. From the beginning it has proved to always be trouble when two "wives" share the father of their children. Anger, jealousy, competition...oh boy! This was pretty intense in your case and Sarah insisted that you and your son be put out. This grieved your child’s father, Abraham’s heart. But GOD spoke to Abraham and Abraham sent you away...into the wilderness...with a sandwich, a bottle of water and the care of your son.
Wait a minute! You didn’t ask for this kid. You even once returned to Sarah, though she was treating you harshly during your pregnancy. Remember? That’s where you met GOD. That is where HE spoke to you by the spring in that wilderness.
Anyway, here you are now sent out into yet another wilderness with no provisions. How Sarah must have smirked when she saw you walking away. She had conquered again.
You wandered in the wilderness, it says, then ran out of water. So you set your son under a bush to die...you walked away and you cried. It says that GOD heard the voice of the lad crying in the wilderness...then GOD spoke to you. "What is the matter with you Hagar? Do not fear for GOD has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him by the hand for I will make a great nation of him."
Then GOD opened your eyes…. And you saw water!!!! You stood up. You gave some drink to your boy. You held his hand….you lifted him up… and you both lived ...in the wilderness.
You raised your son, alone in this wilderness. He did become a great nation. Just like GOD said.
Wow, Hagar. GOD Himself must have been your provider and HE must have been your protector and HE must have been your shield. HE must have taken what was meant for your destruction and OVERRULED it and turned it for good. HE must have or you both surely would have died there in that wilderness.
Well Hagar, that’s quite a story line. I can only imagine the daily details. But GOD did meet you through it all. And HE did do what HE said HE was going to do. And HIS plans were accomplished. And you didn’t die there in that wilderness. Your kid didn’t die in that wilderness. You lived, and you prospered, and you succeeded. And you Hagar, lived the rest of your life free.
Now your story has been written down for all to see. Thanks.
See You in Heaven,
Kim
*As a single mom, Hagar’s story in Genesis 21 has both annoyed me and astounded me. Although I wrote this several years ago at a pivotal point in my life, I can still relate to the raw emotions and honest expressions typed here. Bottom line is; however it is, that we as single mommas, find ourselves living in a wilderness…with little provision…and sole care our kids…GOD will be faithful to us! We will not die in that wilderness but we will live and tell what the LORD has done! Psalm 118:17.