Day 2: A Slave Girl’s Two Desert Encounters

Read: Genesis 16:1-16; Genesis 21:1-19

El Roi is what Hagar named God in Genesis 16:13. The One who sees. Hagar’s story is equal parts compelling and sorrow. She was a young, Egyptian slave girl Abraham likely acquired during his time in Egypt as told in Genesis 12. More specifically, she was Sarah’s maidservant. As such, she had no rights or freedom.

Sadly, she became a pawn in the marital struggle between Sarah and Abraham but more importantly, between them and their perception of God’s inaction to his promise of a son. While it may seem strange to us in 2021, the idea of Sarah building a family through a maidservant was culturally accepted, though not by God. His intent for Sarah and Abraham was for them to have a child together. However, rather than wait on God’s timing, the two of them agreed that Hagar would be the one to bear a son for them.

Hagar had no choice.

Not surprisingly, as soon as she conceived, jealousy emerged. Hagar looked with contempt on Sarah, who in turn, treated her harshly. Hagar fled. On the road to Shur, she encountered God. The Lord saw her misery and he acted. He sent her back to her mistress, but not before promising her many descendants and telling her what the future held for her son.

Fast forward 13 years. Sarah had given birth to Isaac and the animosity between her and Hagar came to a boiling point. Ishmael was caught mocking Isaac and Sarah demanded Abraham send him and his mother away. He did. Traipsing through the desert, out of water, exhausted and near death, Hagar set Ishmael under a bush to die, sat nearby and began to sob. Once again, God made himself known to her. Hagar’s eyes were opened to a well of water where she refreshed herself and the boy.

There is a lot going on in these two chapters. Let’s recap both the positive and negative:

  • Even when humans try to circumvent God’s plan, he remains faithful.
  • Hagar immediately recognized God as “the one who sees her.”
  • When things grew difficult, Hagar’s response was to flee.
  • God met Hagar in her attempts to escape and mercifully intervened.
  • God provides in the most unusual ways at the perfect time.

Do you see yourself in any part of this story? Perhaps you’re a pawn in someone else’s sin or struggle. Maybe your first reaction to difficult things is to flee. Or maybe you’ve tried to do things your way instead of waiting on God’s timing. God sees all those things just as he saw Abraham, Sarah and Hagar doing all those things. He knows everything about you, even things you’ve long forgotten. He knows where you’ve been and he sees where you’re going and the plan he has for your life.

Today is the day to say with Hagar, “I’ve seen the one who sees me.”

Prayer: God, thank you for your faithfulness, even in my wandering and my attempts to do things my way and in my timing. I know you see me in my wandering and helplessness. Help me see you, just as you see me. Help me submit in obedience. Show me what you have for me today and give me all I need to be faithful.