Hagar
Hagar was Sarah's Egyptian slave-maid. Because Sarah seemed barren she gave Hagar to Abraham to bear a child. When Hagar conceived she became proud and Sarah became jealous. Sarah vented her resentment on Hagar who finally ran away into the desert. An angel came to her there and told her to go back and promised that she would bear a son and he would become the father of a great nation. She returned and gave birth to Ishmael. When Sarah gave birth to a son in her old age Ishmael was about thirteen. He and his mother mocked Sarah and Isaac. Abraham was told by God to send Ishmael and Hagar away. The Lord protected them and Ishmael grew up and married an Egyptian woman. The Arabs regard Ishmael as their ancestor. There is a Moslem legend that he and his mother are buried in Mecca.
Lessons from the life of Hagar:
- We often experience God most clearly in and through conflicts.
- Running away from problems seldom solves them.
- God is faithful to His promises and plans.
- Hagar is a symbol of those who try to find favor with God through their own
efforts instead of trusting God's promises. - God wants to be personally involved in our lives.
Hagar's story is found in Genesis 16 and 21. She is also mentioned in Galatians 4:24.
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