Hagar

The Slave Who Named God

READ Genesis 16

As we explore the stories in the Bible, we discover how complex the characters in it really are. Many are marginalized or oppressed, and they often show amazing strength and faith in God.

Hagar is the first of these unlikely faith heroes we’ll cover in this journey, a woman who, despite her position in society, displayed a powerful trust in God.

Hagar’s story is not without tension that might make us uncomfortable. For one thing, Abram and Sarai—the couple we’ll focus on in tomorrow’s reading—do not look so good in the Hagar episode. Hagar was Sarai’s Egyptian slave, presumably acquired while Abram and Sarai were in Egypt (Genesis 12:10–20).

You see, this couple had a problem. God had promised Abram he would make a great nation out of him, with descendants who would bless all people (vv. 1–3). But he and Sarai were unable to have children (11:30). So Sarai devised a plan to use Hagar to build a family for herself. Since Hagar was Sarai’s slave, any children Hagar bore would belong to Sarai.

That’s the proposition Sarai made to Abram. “Sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her” (16:2). Abram consented. Notice that the Bible is silent on Hagar’s feelings about this, at least until she became pregnant. Knowing the child in her womb would not be considered hers, Hagar grew to despise Sarai.

Sarai complained to Abram about the conflicts arising with Hagar, blaming him for what happened (v. 5). Abram told Sarai to handle the situation however she thought best.

Let’s pause to see something noteworthy about how Abram and Sarai spoke about Hagar. They didn’t use her name. Instead, they called her “my slave” (vv. 2, 5) and “your slave” (v. 6). The Bible gives the impression that they saw Hagar only as a possession, not a person.

What tragically follows is that Sarai mistreated Hagar to the point that pregnant Hagar fled into the wilderness. She chose almost certain death in the unforgiving desert over staying with Sarai. There in the wilderness, however, God showed up. And the first word the angel of the Lord spoke to Hagar, in vivid contrast to Abram and Sarai, was her name: Hagar (v. 8). The angel showed Hagar a spring of water and told her to return to Sarai. Interestingly, Hagar’s name means “forsaken,” but this story shows us that she was not forsaken by God!

Here is another tension that might make us uncomfortable: God’s angel told Hagar to return to Sarai and “submit to her” (v. 9). But at the same time, God made Hagar an amazing promise—one that echoes the powerful promise given to Abram: “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count” (v. 10). Further, God’s messenger told Hagar her son would be named Ishmael, meaning “God hears,” because “the LORD has heard of your misery” (v. 11).

All this brings us to Hagar’s powerful act. She named God: “You are the God who sees me” (v. 13), or in Hebrew, El Roi. She named God based on what God had done for her: He saw her, heard her, and cared for her in her misery.

The Bible gives us many names and descriptions for God. The book of Psalms, for example, is full of vivid metaphors and titles for God. He is a “righteous judge” (7:11), “helper of the fatherless” (10:14), “refuge” of the poor (14:6), our “strength” (18:1), our “Rock” (19:14), “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help” (46:1). Describing God and recalling what he has done for us can and should be an important part of our prayers.

As you reflect on Hagar’s story, think about what name you would give God, based on how God has shown his love and mercy to you. Describe what God has done for you. Praise him for his faithful love to you, in bad times and good, sharing with him honestly what that name means to you.

Remember that God knows you by name. He loves you, he sees you, and he hears you.