The God Who Sees Our Pain

Gail Scott-Key, Nashua, New Hampshire, USA

Take a moment to be quiet with God. Begin by reading Genesis 21.

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”

The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”

Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.

God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.

What on earth could you have in common with Egyptian slave Hagar to Sarah wife of Abraham in the bible? Hagar is a story of hope and purpose with the God who sees. Did you know Hagar in the bible means, “Forsaken”, “flight , “A Stranger?” This is how she must have felt in Genesis 21.

Just a little history for a moment. We know that Hagar was a slave who had no rights. Her mistress, Sarah, was free to do whatever she wished with her and so she did -- by having Abraham lay with Hagar so that she could have a child for both Sarah and Abraham. When Sarah learned that Hagar was pregnant, she realized that was not such a great idea. Sarah mistreated Hagar, and when Hagar could no longer take the abuse, she fled into the desert. The Lord met her where she was seeking refuge, and told her to return to Sarah.

In Genesis 21 – Sarah has her own baby and will not share her child’s inheritance with Hagar and Abraham’s son, Ishmael. Sarah banishes Hagar and Ishmael from their home. Back into the desert they go.

I can relate to Hagar when I feel mistreated by others' unkind actions or words. I can feel like I too want to run away into an abandoned desert to be met by God in my time of refuge. My heart can feel broken by miscommunication or what people may think of me, and then I can feel it must be true? I am not wanted, needed, or loved anymore. In my case these feelings are called insecurities, and they can do just as much damage as if a person was standing before me declaring the same.

That’s why to me, Hagar’s story is a wonderful reminder of when we feel alone, broken and insignificant – God SEES you!

God is seeking out the lost lamb who is used and rejected and is crying out from the pain. God loves you and knows what you need and has a plan for your life as he did Hagar’s. Why? Because he SEES you!

Reflect on these questions and pray.

• Do I feel worthy of the eyes of God?
• Why or why not?