I recently read a blog post from another pastor's wife that reminded me of the story of Hagar. Remember her? Abraham & Sarah had waited patiently for God to bless them with a child. God did not seem to be working on their timetable so Sarah took things into her own hands. She had Abraham lay with her servant Hagar. This lead to a great deal of disfunction in the household to say the least! Sarah became bitter and jealous and mistreated Hagar. Hagar had enough at one point and fled into the desert. The angel of the LORD finds her sitting by a spring of water. God ministers to her and encourages her. He tells her to go back and also that she will have a son. Hagar gives God the name - the God who sees.
God has used this piece of scripture to minister to me continually over the last several weeks. I have noticed new things not before seen.
The whole disfunction of the community began because Abraham & Sarah were unwilling to wait and trust in the Lord. They took matters into their own hands rather than obeying and the result was chaos, hurt and disfunction.
Ever notice that God seems to take His people to the desert in order to experience life's greatest blessings? Hagar was in the desert before she came face to face with the Lord. Furthermore, the text says, "the angel of the LORD found her." What a beautiful picture! Hagar was alone, sad, scared, confused, and so on. God didn't wait for her to come to Him. He pursued her and found her! God always pursues His children. We, also, should pursue those who are hurting even when they are not seeking us.
God does not completely deliver Hagar. He tells her to go back to Abraham and Sarah. She must live where she is not really wanted and has no strong supportive relationships. She receives her greatest blessing in the midst of these trials in the form of her son.
So how does she do it? How does she live among those who mistreat her? How does she keep herself from becoming bitter? How does she protect her son from being treated differently? How does she go on with hope in her heart?
God sees her.
Hagar has come face to face with the living God. She knows without a doubt that He has seen her. He is familiar with all of her ways. He knows every detail of her life. He has saved all of her tears in a bottle (Psalms 56:8). He sees her and He is working.
God sees her fears.
God sees her hurt.
God sees how she is mistreated and hurt by those she is in community with.
God sees her heart to honor Him.
What an amazing encouragement!
Amen!!!! beautifully said Amber
Posted by: Friend | September 19, 2011 at 05:18 PM