“The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.
Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”
The angel of the Lord also said to her:
“You are now pregnant
and you will give birth to a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,
for the Lord has heard of your misery.
He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward all his brothers.”
She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (Genesis 16:7-14)
Hagar, whose name means ‘stranger’, has been exploited. She has been used and abused by people in power. She is an ‘alien’ in a sense, without legal recourse.
In Hagar we find a woman in the middle of tragedy, outcast and alone.
When Sarah could not conceive she gave Hagar to her husband as a surrogate. Hagar was fertile, became pregnant and bore Abraham’s son Ishmael. She was never fully accepted into the tribe despite the fact she was the mother of Abraham’s child, and in the end she was rejected completely and expelled into the desert.
In the middle of her pain she saw Him. The one who sees her.
And God protected her twice from Sarah’s hatred by sending an angel, and eventually Hagar lived as a free woman, not a slave.
God looked after her.
Dear Lord,
Thank you that we can see you – the one who sees us. Others might not understand us the way we want them to. People might abuse or reject us, or give us labels. But when our eyes rest on you, we are given a new label. When we are seen by you, we take on a dignity and status the world could never offer us. We become sons and daughters of the King – seen, loved and treasured. Thank you for giving me a purpose grander and more delightful than any I could imagine for myself. Thank you that I don’t have to worry about what others think of me because I have seen the one who sees me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
It's a God thing... 
Hi Ali.
This is another great post. It is something that people need to hear. I needed to hear it!! 🙂 It’s encouraging to know that God sees me. I may think He is hiding at times but He sees me….
I really like the new style of writing you have started. There is a new depth to your posts which is what the world needs. Enough of posts that just tickle our ears. People need something real and God is using you to do just that…. Looking forward to more powerful posts……!!
God bless you and your family Ali…
Rolain
I’m glad Rolain. Thank you for being such an encouragement! I really appreciate your words – they spur me on to keep writing 🙂 I’m glad you’ve appreciated the new style. God bless.
Amen Ali :). Thank you again for being an encouragement and the mouth piece of God. Love to you
Thank you so much Amber… praying His blessing on you and your dear family today 🙂
WOW. Thanks, Ali, for telling Hagar’s story so clearly and compassionately. It is such a gift when we SEE God, and realize deep down in our hearts that HE SEES US. This reminder that He knows me in my isolation is a great comfort–thank you. God bless you BIG–love, sis Caddo
Thank you Caddo! We are never truly alone when in a relationship with Him are we… Praying that we’d be well practiced at opening our hearts to Him so we can truly see and be seen…
Reblogged this on The Living Message of Christ and commented:
This is a great post and couldn’t have been said any better. Just as in the days of Hagar, the Lord sees all of us and cares for all of us. He is with us through all of the times of our lives, good or bad, thick or thin whether that is regarding health, money, relationships or whatever. God never leaves us nor forsakes us. Great message!
Thank you!
We rarely hear this side of her story. I’m glad you shared it.
Thanks Patti, I enjoyed exploring her story…The Bible has endless treasures doesn’t it? Thanks for coming by and being a blessing.
This was beautifully written. Thank you for writing truth straight from the Bible. What an encouragement you are!
Thank you Heather! Really appreciate you stopping by to and encourage 🙂
Thank you for such a beautiful encouragement that we are seen .. .and what others see and think pales in comparison to that. Praying to see Him more and more! God bless you and yours, dear Ali!
Thank you Debbie! So true, your words about others’ view of us paling in comparison… So glad for the way God can fill our every need 🙂
Beautiful, keep writing, God bless you!
Thank you 🙂 I appreciate you dropping by to read.
I love Hagar’s story. It seems like we are better able to hear God when we are at our lowest points- when we need His encouragement most.
Yes for sure, I agree Janna. His strength is made perfect in our weakness 🙂