Genesis 21:9–20 

⁹ But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. ¹⁰ So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” ¹¹ And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. ¹² But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. ¹³ And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” ¹⁴ So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. ¹⁵ When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. ¹⁶ Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. ¹⁷ And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. ¹⁸ Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” ¹⁹ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. ²⁰ And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow.

Read more about Hagar’s story: Genesis 16:1-15.

It was there at the spring that Hagar met God through His angel. She had fled her home because she felt betrayed, alone, and even invisible. But at the spring, she knew she was seen by God Himself. He promised Hagar that her son would be the leader of a great multitude; His favor rested upon her. In her darkest moment of isolation, God saw her. In the midst of pain, confusion, and despair, God spoke to her, gave her direction, and assured her of a future. He also told her she needed to return to Sarah. Yes, Sarah had wronged her. But two wrongs do not make a right; and Hagar needed to return and submit herself to her master and mistress. Years later, Hagar finds herself cast into the desert, this time with her son who is dying of thirst. Once more, the Lord sees her––He values her––providing her and her son a well full of water.

No matter where we are in life—whether in a wilderness of despair, facing rejection, or experiencing loneliness—God sees us. He knows our pain, our struggles, and our heartaches. Hagar, despite being a servant, was given a purpose and a promise by God. She was not discarded or overlooked but was called to be the mother of one who would become the leader of a mighty nation. God can bring purpose even out of situations that seem hopeless. When God instructed Hagar to return to Sarah and submit to her, He didn’t promise an easy journey, but He did promise to bless her and her descendants. Sometimes, God’s call to us is not to escape from difficult situations, but to trust Him in them. God’s promises are not always about removing pain but walking with us through it.

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