GENESIS 16:1–13
Christopher Wright’s book (The God I Don’t Understand) highlights Hagar as one of the first people to name God.
Hagar’s story is a disturbing portrayal of human history. After years since God told Abram and Sarai they would have a son, Sarai becomes older and impatient. She gives her slave, Hagar, to her husband, leading to Hagar becoming pregnant. Dissension arises, and Sarai mistreats Hagar, who runs away. In the desert, she meets the angel of the Lord, who promises to increase their descendants to be too numerous to count. The angel names Hagar’s son Ishmael, meaning “God hears” (Genesis 16:11). In response, Hagar, a slave from a culture with multiple gods, called God the God who sees her.
The God who sees us is the God of impatient heroes, powerless runaways, the wealthy, well-connected, and destitute, who deeply cares for each of us, hearing and seeing.
🙏 Thank You for being the God who sees us, and we can still run to You.
