Hagar

2024-02-04

Hagar was the Egyptian handmaid that was the mother of Ishmael. She was probably acquired while Abram was in Egypt because of the famine (Genesis 12:10). While Abram “believed in the LORD” (Genesis 15:6) regarding the multitude of descendants he would have, he was not convinced they would come from Sarai. Sarai gave Hagar her handmaid as a wife for Abram to have children on her behalf. “And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife” (Genesis 16:3).

When Hagar was with child, this caused tension in Abram’s household. “And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee” (Genesis 16:4-5). Sarai treated the handmaid harshly, so she fled.

Regardless of the sin that took place or the promises concerning the future of God’s people, God sent His angel to comfort this pregnant runaway. This is the first time the phrase “the angel of the LORD” appears in the Bible (Genesis 16:7). The LORD cares for the lowly and the downtrodden. He had her return to Sarai and submit to her. He also promised a multitude of descendants would come from her, just as He did with Abram. You see her faith in her response: “And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered” (Genesis 16:13-14). Her son Ishmael was born, for God had heard her, and he would go on to have 12 sons, princes (Genesis 17:20).

Once Isaac was born, she was sent away with her son. This is a distinct story from the first. Her son was already born, and he went with her. She was also sent away, rather than her running away like the first time. This time, she despaired of life.

The angel of God spoke to her from heaven this time, renewing His promise of making of Ishmael a great nation and replenishing her water supply. The child did not die, as Hagar feared, but rather grew up, becoming an archer and marrying an Egyptian woman.

Hagar and Ishmael’s plight was because of Sarai’s poor advice to Abram. Regardless, the Lord is compassionate and provides for people in their need. Even though Abram’s seed is named in Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael were never forgotten by the Lord. The Lord’s compassion for Hagar and Ishmael does not negate that the seed of promise would come through Isaac.

Hagar was used as analogy of Mount Sinai and the bondage of the Law, being a bondmaid, while Sarah, the freewoman and her seed, Isaac, corresponded with the New Jerusalem from above. As Hagar and Ishmael were cast out in favor of Isaac the seed of promise, we are to cast out the Law in favor of Christ to be free from the bondage of the Law. “So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free” (Galatians 4:31).