Hagar’s story is told in Genesis 16; 21
- Who is Hagar?
- Hagar was an Egyptian maidservant to Sarah (or Sarai), the wife of Abraham.
- When Sarah could not bear a child, she offered Hagar to Abraham as a surrogate, which was a common practice in their culture.
- Hagar bore Abraham a son, Ishmael, but after the birth of Isaac, Sarah’s son, she and Ishmael were cast out into the desert.
- Strengths and Accomplishments
- Hagar showed remarkable resilience and strength in surviving harsh circumstances.
- She was the first woman in the Bible to whom an angel of the Lord appeared, promising her descendants would be too numerous to count (Genesis 16:10).
- Hagar played an important role in the birth of nations. Ishmael, her son, is considered the ancestor of many Arab nations.
- Weaknesses and Mistakes
- After learning she would bear Abraham a child, Hagar started to disrespect Sarah, leading to a tense relationship (Genesis 16:4).
- She fled from her responsibilities, not once but twice, when things got tough (Genesis 16:6-8, 21:14).
- Lessons from Hagar’s Life
- Hagar’s story is a testament to God’s care for the oppressed and marginalized. He found her in the desert and took care of her.
- God hears our cries. When Hagar cried out in desperation, God listened and provided for her (Genesis 21:17).
- We can learn the importance of humility and respect for authority from Hagar’s tension with Sarah.
- Key Verses (NIV version)
- Genesis 16:10 – “The angel added, ‘I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.'”
- Genesis 21:17 – “God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, ‘What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.'”