Joel M Bradshaw

7The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.

9Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” 10The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”

11The angel of the Lord also said to her:

“You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.

12He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”

13She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”–Genesis 16

Hagar was in a difficult position and running away from her situation. Some of what she was dealing with was not her responsibility and some was. She couldn’t help being put in her messy situation, but she could control her attitude and how she further responded.

God sought after her, met with her, understood her, and gave her a hope and a future. God sees us no matter how messy or broken we feel. We cannot run and hide from God. He cares for us in the middle of difficult seasons. This would be a good opportunity to pause and pray a verse committing God to not just see you but search you.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Some reading these words would give anything to feel seen and understood. Others are full of regret and shame and are terrified of not being able to hide. God saw Hagar and Hagar was grateful.–JMB