A woman cries out to GOD
In her despair, a woman cries out to GOD and is heard! That woman is Hagar, and with GOD’s response, we see that Hagar is vindicated.
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 16:13-16
“Then she [Hagar] called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered. So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.”
Hagar is alone
Hagar is impregnated by another woman’s husband so that she may have a child on their behalf. Surrogacy of a sort, this birth will mark the beginning of a nation. But in the meantime, this woman is alone and grieved and she cries out to GOD.
Hagar is grateful
GOD sends an angel to comfort Hagar and she is comforted indeed. She is promised her son will be well taken care of and supported by GOD. And she is delighted and relived for GOD has heard her.
In fact, it is from Ishmael that the Arab nation grew. Just as the Hebrews grew from 12 descendants of Jacob, so too, the Arab people developed from Ishmael’s descendants.
Hagar is healed
So Hagar moves on from her despair, bears Ishmael, and her immediate pain is overcome.
The Lesson
Suffering will come: life is not guaranteed to be happy all the time. Rather, pain will come, from time to time. It is how we become more intimate with GOD. It is how we learn. And what can we learn…..?
When we cry out to GOD, He hears, and He will respond when we give Him ear.
“And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?” (Luke 18:7)
And when we are in pain, it is vital that we do call out to our Father, who loves us, hears, us, listens to us, offers us hope and respite. His promises are true and we can rely upon Him. Amen.