Scripture:
Genesis 16:1-16 NKJV
[1] Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. [2] So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. [3] Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. [4] So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. [5] Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between you and me.” [6] So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence. [7] Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. [8] And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” [9] The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” [10] Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” [11] And the Angel of the Lord said to her: “Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has heard your affliction. [12] He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” [13] Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” [14] Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered. [15] So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. [16] Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
Observation:
This scripture is one that has been on my mind for several days, and I know that there is a lot to read here but I felt it necessary to paint the whole picture. However getting started is going to be somewhat fun, because there are three people involved here, two that had been given a promise from GOD and one that was seemingly a victim of circumstance. Abram had been promised by the LORD that he would be the father of many nations. A statement that as time passed seemed to be forgotten about. I’m sure it was something that had been mentioned to his wife Sarai, because honestly she would have to be a willing participant . Her anxiety to be a mother was weighing on her as the biological clock continued to tick, in her mind the opportunity to fulfill GOD’S promise was slipping out of her hands, and honestly that’s how HE likes it. It’s not about anyone’s glory but HIS, and HE was making that known in this situation, but that’s just not how Sarai saw it. She saw time passing and no promise being fulfilled. Thinking it was her fault and not GOD’S perfect timing she developed a plan. That plan brings the third character into the picture, a lowly slave named Hagar. She was the property of Sarai. They had more than likely picked her up when Abram had traveled through Egypt and told them that Sarai was his sister so that would not kill him to have her. Sarai’s idea was to help GOD bring HIS promise about. I’m sure she could see Abram’s face every time it came to that time of the month and she still had the cycle to expose the fact that a baby was not in her womb. Because Hagar had no rights as a slave she was given to Abram as a way to make GOD’S promise happen. I need to break in here and say GOD does not need our help. HIS promises are yes and amen, if HE said it….. it will happen. Although Abram did not get the opportunity to see that his grandson did. Jacob became Israel who fathered twelve sons. GOD kept HIS promise. But all that is rabbit trails. Getting back to my point. Hagar had no rights and was given to Abram as a piece of property. When she became pregnant the jealousy that was inside of Sarai could not be hidden, “How did this happen, am I not good enough.” I could see all the questions coming to her mind as she saw her husband with another woman, “HE should have never listened to me.” All the regrets from that one decision, “What am I going to do now, it’s clear the problem was me, she is more of a woman than I am.” Going to her husband and blaming him for this, he tells her the only thing that could be said, “Deal with her how you see fit.” She had no rights, just a slave, almost not even human in their eyes, she had no value. So that dealt with her harshly. When Hagar couldn’t take it any more she ran away. She was desperate to be treated like a human. She didn’t ask for any of this. She was powerless over any of it. Sitting there in the wilderness weeping tired of being mistreated yet not sure how to do anything about it. She realizes that she has not gone unnoticed. The Angel of the LORD had seen her, HE had seen the whole situation, and had a plan to use every bit of the pain that she was feeling at the moment. It didn’t change her position; she was still a slave and would have to submit to Sarai but knowing that she was seen did change how she saw what she was facing. Knowing that she was not alone and had a purpose gave her the ability to face whatever she had to face. As the Angel of the LORD gave her the instructions I’m sure she didn’t want to hear, even though she more than likely didn’t want to, she did exactly as the Angel of the LORD had said, knowing that it was not the end of the story. The child that was in her womb would be a key to future events. As the weight of that set into her heart she knew that her pain was not without reason, she was seen and wanted the Angel to know how important that encounter was to her, “ You are the GOD who sees me.” Just knowing that changed how she saw the situation. She knew that she had value. She knew it wasn’t for nothing, that it was all part of a bigger plan and even though she couldn’t see it now, she had been given a promise as well. Every bit of her pain now had purpose.
Application:
Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that we have no control over. People make decisions that affect us thinking they are doing the right thing, yet finding out that it was the wrong way to go. Just knowing that we are seen by the one who created us is a big deal. Life is not always fair, and it’s not always comfortable. But faith begins at the end of our comfort zone. I’m not sure what you are going through right now. I can only speak for my life, but what I know is I am seen, GOD has not missed one moment of my life, HE has missed nothing from yours as well, and although it may not seem that way everything you are feeling has a purpose. It’s not an end, it’s a new beginning. It might not be easy but knowing that you are seeing and are not alone in what you are facing is a big deal in my book. GOD sees you, HE sees your pain, HE sees how they mistreated you, HE sees it all. What you are going through has not been unnoticed. Whether or not it is your fault matters little, when it comes down to how HE is going to use it as part of HIS plan. I’m not saying you don’t have to own up to your part, but what I am saying is that GOD will use all things for good for those who love HIM and are called according to HIS purpose. It may be hard to see HIS purpose in your situation but I can guarantee one thing… if it has happened HE has a purpose for it. I know it doesn’t take the pain out of it, but it allows us to see that HE will walk through that pain with us. We are not alone. HE sees us. Every tear we cry does not drop to the ground without HIM taking an account of it. You are not unnoticed, HE knew you before you were placed in your mother’s womb. Every step of your life has been mapped out. Run to HIM not from HIM. Take every painful moment right to the foot of the cross, and let HIM use it as a new beginning rather than the end of all things. HIS plan is a good plan even when it doesn’t feel good, placing it in HIS hands means that it will be used for the best possible outcome. Listen to the still small voice that is backed by HIS word. “HE SEES YOU” there is a reason for the pain. Embrace it and learn from it. Press on to win the prize of the upward call of GOD.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you miss nothing, and although it may hurt right now we know that it is not over. You have a plan for every tear, a plan for every moment of discomfort. Nothing misses your sight or purpose. Help us to see that you see us. That you see what we are facing and that we are never alone in it. We are your children, and just like a child that has been hurt we can run to you with everything. You see all and are on all. That’s what your word tells us and so that’s what we have to stand on. You are the one and only real GOD who sees us. You saw the beginning of our lives and the end of our lives here on earth all at the same time, along with everything that will happen in between that span of time. You are shaping us to be like your SON. HE submitted to the painful moments because HE knew that you had a plan that was bigger than our human minds could understand. What we know is that we are always a part of something bigger than us, because you are a generational GOD. You are thinking about the chains that will be broken way after we are gone, due to what we face right now. You are using our pain for your purpose, and we surrender to that. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.