The Story Of Hagar

Last week I felt like I was struggling to get words from my head to the page. Sometimes all the specifics get muddled and you just need poetry to leave things just broad enough yet also personal. Poetry to me is like painting a picture, it’s not clear what I’m saying to everyone, but it is to me and that’s what makes it powerful.

I was thinking about what to write on my blog this week. Typically I have a subject in mind for my Sunday Sessions, but lately I’ve felt distracted from writing and it’s been harder to really think of something. As I pondered a familiar story came to my mind, the tale of Hagar. If you’re not familiar I will recount the tale, but I feel as though her story is so important and it tells of her patience and love for God despite Him leading her into tribulation. It’s a story of imperfect people making imperfect decisions and God making great things anyway.

When Sarah and Abraham were married I’m certain it was a wonderful day. In that time one of the greatest glories of a woman, and honestly considered the most important role, was the role of having children. In our day that seems old fashioned and sexist, but for Sarah not having children was devastating. Suddenly she didn’t know her place in the world anymore. What kind of wife could she be if she couldn’t have kids? This led to a decision of giving her handmade, Hagar, over to Abraham so she could bear him a child, a legal custom in their day, much like surrogacy today, with less of the medical intervention.

Sarah most likely made the choice because it was a common custom of the day, but it wasn’t one she was actually okay with. The moment Hagar conceived she was bitterly jealous. This jealousy turned to abuse, one so brutal Hagar wished to leave Sarah.

In tears by a fountain, an angel appeared to Hagar to comfort her. The angel instructed her to return to Sarah and that her child would multiply upon the earth because of her sacrifice. Hagar returned with a blessing from God. Today we can sympathize with both women, both subject to the customs of their time, but as important as that part of the story is, there is a more general lesson in this story.

After Sarah is finally able to have a child, Hagar’s son, Ishmael is caught making fun of Isaac, the new baby boy. Sarah is so upset she commands Abraham to send them away. Distraught, Abraham contemplates this decision until God tells him to do so.

Abandoned and in the wilderness, Hagar lays her son down in the bush and walks away too heartbroken to watch her blessed child die from thirst. Broken and hopeless Hagar cried to God, the being who had promised her such blessing for remaining with Sarah. In her darkest moment God came to her and reminded her of the blessing already promised. He gave her sight, to see water and replenish her son.

When it comes to society and women’s place in it, this story gives a deep allegory on how despite the world’s views, God has a greater plan for all. Hagar’s worth in the world had been torn to absolute nothing, she was no wife and her child was second rate to the child born of Sarah. The world told Hagar she was pointless, but God did not.

At the fountain God reminded Hagar she was important. No matter her statues in the house of Abraham. Ishmael’s name means God will hear or God hears. In a house where the head seems to be the most connected to God, God reaching out directly to Hagar was a sign of her importance. She was just a surrogate, her baby would have been seen as a child of Sarah, she wasn’t important, but she was to God.

No matter your statues, no matter how small
To Him you’re important, the Master of all
He’s always there watching, at night he can hear
The prayers and the crying of those He holds dear.

The servant, the master, the slave, and the king
For all he has suffered, his praises we sing.
Forgotten by world, ignored by a friend
For Him you’re important, from right now till no end.