Hagar (Illustration by Joel Spector, 2005)
The Invisible Woman: Hagar
'The slave girl Hagar had a whole list of reasons for thinking she was invisible. It was easy to conclude from the way her life was going that she didn’t matter to anyone. Her encounter with El Roi – “the God who sees me”- turned her around. Hagar teaches us a powerful lesson of just how profoundly important we are to God'.
Read: Genesis 16:1-16; 21:8-21
Something to ponder...
1) How was Hagar lost? What made her invisible?
2) Do you relate to Hagar’s sense that she really didn’t matter? Why?
3) How did Hagar’s experiences with Sarah reinforce her sense that she didn’t matter?
4) Why did the encounter with the Angel of the Lord change Hagar’s perspective? What gave Hagar the courage to return to Sarah?
5) What was Hagar’s mission in returning? Beyond giving birth to a son, what significant contributions did Hagar make to Abraham and Sarah’s understanding of God?
6) Why is Hagar a remarkable figure in biblical history? Why is her significance booth unlikely and surprising, yet a perfect example pf how God often works through women?
7) How is Hagar’s story an encouragement to you?
Can't remember how to take part? Here's a reminder.
Catch up on the conversation so far here.
5 comments:
There were a couple of things that struck me as very significant – Hagar’s encounter with God at a point when she was lost, feeling fearful, abandoned, in despair and helpless and when she called God ELROI, the God who sees. God does care and to prove the point, he revealed himself to Hagar, a handmaid and an Egyptian – a slave, a foreigner and a girl! That was a special moment for her. It must have been one of those AHA! Moments for Hagar when she realized that God knows her and she is not just a face or a warm body but someone who has a name, value and significance – that is life changing!
Hagar's story has challenged me to be always mindful and respectful of other people - whatever their circumstances are or who they or what they do because God loves them as much as he loves me. It's not always easy though and it can sometimes be a constant struggle - just because we are human.
I too found myself being struck (as in the case of Sarah) at the indiscriminate and tender love of God as shown to Hagar - one who in so many ways was insignificant and counted for so little. She must have been blown away at the fact that God (leave alone any other human being) was actually interested in her!! That must have been such an alien feeling. Going back to the discussion on ‘wholeness’, I thought that Jame’s point about Hagar being empowered by the dignity and meaning she received by her encounter with God and this subsequently enabling her to love her neighbour and put their needs first, reflected some of what Sheela possibly meant when she talked about filling ourselves up on God so it frees others from having to meet our emotional needs (with regard to Sarah). A reminder that the source of wholeness and significance is God.
I agree with you Keshy. I also found myself mulling over the fact that Hagar was not offered her freedom but instead was told to return to Sarah and Abraham. An emancipation of the heart was what happened here. The situation may not have changed but the heart touched and set free by God brings about a different kind of freedom, a "not so alone feeling (or knowledge), a sense of mission and meaning to life. Isn't that awesome?
God sees me! And he sees you! Kind of makes me want to go shout it from the rooftops… Satan has woven such an effective web of deception, making us believe that God couldn’t possibly see us, and if he does, he couldn’t possibly care.
‘God focuses on Hagar despite the fact that the child she carries is not the promised one and her story is only a messy interruption to the real story God is weaving. Yet he treats Hagar like she’s the most important person in the world as he follows her into the wilderness to affirm his love for her and bring a sudden and permanent end to her aloneness’. And he feels this way about each one of us. Amazing! Definitely a message every woman (and man, for that matter) needs to hear.
I love that God named her son ‘Ishmael’ (God hears) so that Hagar would have a tangible and constant reminder of the way God drew near to her in her misery.
I too was struck by the fact that Hagar mattered to God. It reminded me of the first time I discovered the verse in Zephaniah 3:17 talking about God singing over you with love. A bit of an AHA moment for me.
I was also struck by fact that Hagar was sent back to Abraham and Sarah. God did not change her circumstances but her heart. I find that so difficult at times - to trust God even when he does not rescue me from a difficult situation.
I think Sheela had a really god point when she talked about filling ourselves up on God so it frees others from having to meet our emotional needs. Its just so difficult!
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