At some point, you have experienced being hurt by someone, and the hurt you felt was deep. Certainly, you try to avoid this person at all costs. You might muster up some polite conversation and maybe even pray for them, but you WILL NOT call them your friend and absolutely couldn’t ever put yourself under their authority. IMPOSSIBLE! Or is it?
In Genesis 16 Abraham and Sarah were not waiting for God’s promise. Sarah hatched a horrible plan to give her maid, Hagar, to Abraham to be his second wife. Hagar ultimately conceives, and Sarah appears to be bitter at the outcome of her plan! (This is no big surprise!)
Genesis 16:6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
Poor Hagar, she was a victim of Sarah’s bad idea, and now she has to escape from an angry woman. She was in great distress, homeless, pregnant, alienated, and hated. There was absolutely no one to turn to. But her Lord knew who she was and where she was.
Genesis 16:7-8 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
When I picture the Lord visiting a broken Hagar, the following verses from Psalms seems fitting.
Psalms 8:3-5 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
How tender is your Lord! He visited Hagar. He called her by her name. He cared for her and was “mindful” of her condition.
Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Just like He did for Hagar, He comes to you in your distress and calls you by your name. He desires for you to come to Him so He can give you rest and a moment of escape from the troubles.
Proverbs 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
But He might not always rescue us from our distress and sometimes He might ask us to do something unexpected, something IMPOSSIBLE!
Genesis 16:9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
“Impossible, there is no way I can do that!!” (Do you think this is what you would have proclaimed?) This must have been incredibly difficult for Hagar to process. Hagar was being asked to return home and submit herself to someone who had initiated the wrong. This had to take great spiritual strength and control. She had been wronged and had done no wrong. She was the victim, and the Lord was not “vindicating” her as her pride might have demanded. In order to return, I have to imagine that Hagar had to know that God was with her and was going to give her rest and strength in a difficult situation. I know that He can do the same for me when I feel that I am faced with an impossible situation. He can do the same for you.
Related Bible Passages:
Genesis 16
Psalms 8
Proverbs 8
Matthew 11
Have a face to face conversation with your Lord:
Lord, is there a person in my life that I need to return to? Am I resistant because this person has wronged me?
Lord, is pride getting in the way of me returning to a relationship with this person?
Lord, am I seeking vindication – do I want to “get even” rather than submit to your way?
Lord, help me to have the strength and faith of Hagar. Help me to serve you and not seek vindication.
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Glory, Strength, & Beauty 