Recently, the news has been filled with reports about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It seems as though for years, there has been conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Where did it all start? Way back in the Old Testament we find the roots of the ongoing conflict. This leads to our introduction to Hagar, and the many lessons we can learn from her story.
Who Is Hagar in the Bible?
In the book of Genesis, we read the story of Abraham. God promised Abraham that through his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). God promised a child to Abraham and Sarah even in their old age. However, the story doesn’t end there. Sarah didn’t have the faith to trust God’s timing in her circumstances.
Hagar was an Egyptian slave bought by Abraham to serve his wife Sarah (Genesis 16:3). Her story as a slave is filled with abandonment, abuse, and affliction. When Sarah was getting on in years and still had not born children to Abraham, she impulsivity commanded Hagar to go to bed with her husband. In the culture at the time of Abraham, this would have been acceptable. However, just because culture said it was fine didn’t mean it was God’s ideal.
After Abraham slept with Hagar, she became pregnant and began taunting Sarah. Even though she was only a slave she now had what Sarah most wanted. A child. Sarah became irate even though she was the one who originally came up with the idea. Sarah blamed Abraham for her difficulties began mistreating Hagar. As a result, Hagar ran away. She left to return home to Egypt (Genesis 16:7). However, “the angel of the LORD found Hagar” (Genesis 16:7). Some theologians believe this was an angel sent from God. Others believe this was Jesus Christ.
Either way, in Hagar’s misery, God met her and spoke to her. Hagar called the LORD, “the God who sees me.” Later, after Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, she and her son were sent away. However, once again, the LORD pursues her and her son (Genesis 21:17-21).
Tucked within this story are 3 life-changing truths about God:
3 Truths Christians Can Learn from the Story of Hagar in the Bible
1. God sees and hears the forgotten. God heard Hagar sobbing in the wilderness (Genesis 21:16-17) and He hears your cries as well. Sarah also felt forgotten. God had not answered her prayers for a child. God had not forgotten. His timetable was merely different. He is the God who bends down to listen to every murmur and groan of the human heart (Psalm 116:2 NLT).
You may feel forgotten, but God has not forgotten you. He sees. He has seen every tear you have cried. In fact, the Psalmist tells us that God collects our tears in his bottle (Psalm 56:8). Strengthen your faith and dare to believe He is listening and in His time, He will answer.
2. God loves and pursues sinners. Often in church circles, we think in terms of “insiders and outsiders.” People of faith and those who have none. God, however, sees all humanity in terms of them needing a Savior, and He passionately pursues all! Think about Jesus. Jesus spent far more time with sinners and the outcasts of society than He did with churchgoers. It’s kind of a disturbing thought, but also a reality check for those of us who are churchgoers. Jesus spent time with those whom we might consider immoral. He had deep conversations with prostitutes, heathens, the bloodied, the bruised, and the broken. All the outcasts of society were inexplicably drawn to Jesus.
Hagar was an outcast. She was a slave and was looked down on by both Abraham and Sarah. However, in God’s eyes, she was precious and worth pursuing.
As we look at the violence in the Gaza strip, there are many well-meaning Christians who are preaching that God’s heart is with Israel. That’s true, but God’s heart is also for those on the other side. The truth is, God values even terrorists and pursues them with a heart of love. After traveling around the world, my husband and I actually know former terrorists who have come to know and embrace the love of Christ. Their hearts have been changed. We must remember as believers that our first calling as people who love and follow Christ is to reflect His love to the world around us, even to those we consider enemies. God loved Hagar and drew her to Himself with a love that far exceeds any human love, and He still pursues sinners today.
3. God gives grace, but often allows the consequences of our sin to impact others. Though God’s plan was to bless Isaac as the son of Abraham and Sarah, God tenderly cared for Ishmael. When Abraham eventually sent Hagar away, God met her once again in the desert. God promised that He would make Ishmael into a great nation and then the Scripture tells us, “God was with the boy” (Genesis 21:20).
While God redeems and restores our foolish mistakes and lack of faith, there are often consequences that continue to impact others. Sarah’s impulsive decision to act on God’s behalf rather than trusting Him caused Hagar and Ishmael great pain. Beyond just them, her lack of faith has resulted in years of conflict between Jews and Arabs. The impact of one sin is often staggering! Sin is never committed in a vacuum. It always affects other people.
From Ishmael, came the Arab race. In fact, Muslims believe he was the one whom Abraham offered up to the Lord on the altar. From Isaac’s seed came the Jewish race. As believers, we know that Isaac was offered on the altar at Moriah, and it is a beautiful picture of God offering up His only Son on calvary. However, the tension between Arabs and Israelis has never diminished. Sarah’s impulsive sin has caused generations of conflict. It is a good reminder to all of us. As believers, our sins are covered by the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. We are forgiven and set free. However, that doesn’t mean the consequences of our sinful choices are automatically erased.
Why Should We Know about Hagar in the Bible?
Consider. How’s your faith? Are you impatient wondering if God has forgotten you? You aren’t going to be perfect as a believer. You are going to make mistakes and sin. However, when you’re on the brink of making a life-altering choice, consider, “Who will my decision impact?” When you’ve sinned, consider, “Who got hurt because of my actions?” Then confess to God and ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Also, take steps to apologize, ask forgiveness, and make amends with those who were impacted by your choices.
Understand. Part of being a person of faith is seeking to understand how God’s plan is unfolding around the world. Make it your goal to understand what you’re reading in the news. The conflict between the Arabs and Israelis is entrenched in rights to the land and religious rights. Those who are Arabs believe the promise of the land was given to Ishmael because he was Abraham’s oldest son, regardless of the fact that he was born to Hagar. Jews believe the promise was given to Isaac because He was born of Sarah. Make it your goal as a believer in Christ to research and understand how this conflict is rooted historically in the events of the Old Testament (Genesis 16 and 21).
Pray. Exercise your faith through prayer. Once you understand the nature of this age-old conflict, begin to pray and intercede; not only for the Jews but also for Arabs to come to a saving knowledge of Christ. Jesus is presently doing miraculous things in both the Muslim world and the Jewish world. Rather than praying that we or Israel will “win,” why not pray that they would come to Christ?
Pray also for Palestinian believers who are caught in the scuffle. My husband and I have had the opportunity to meet many of them who are asking believers in the Western world to pray for them. They are suffering and hurting as well.
Praise. Finally praise God by faith for His love and faithfulness in your life. Praise Him that when you were far away, He pursued you. He saw your tears and heard your cries. Praise Him that you are alive at this moment in history. As we move closer to the end times, more and more of our attention will be drawn to the Middle East, and the story of Hagar has perhaps never been more relevant than it is today. Praise God that He is still moving and working according to His plan all around the world.
As you consider the seemingly insignificant story of Hagar, ask God to open your heart to understand His ways more fully. Remember, God sees and hears the forgotten, He pursues every sinner and though we are always forgiven for our sins, there may be ongoing consequences. Ask Him to create within you strong faith and a willingness to wait for His perfect timing in your life. When you feel impatient, remember the story of Hagar and ask God to strengthen your faith.
Further Reading
How God Met Hagar in Her Deepest Need
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Molly Belle
Authentic. Passionate. Funny and Biblical all describe Becky Harling. A best-selling author, Becky is a popular speaker at conferences, retreats, and other events. She is the author of 11 books, including Our Father, Psalms for the Anxious Heart, How to Listen so Your Kids Will Talk, and The Extraordinary Power of Praise.
Becky is a certified coach with the John Maxwell Team and a seasoned Bible teacher. You can connect with Becky at www.beckyharling.com, www.harlingleadership.com, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/beckyharlingministries, Twitter, @beckyharling, or on Instagram at Becky Harling