Hagar is a woman that I've known about for a long time. As a child growing up in a Christian home and attending a Christian elementary school and Sunday school every week I heard about Hagar more than once or twice. I don't think I ever considered what lessons she would be able to teach me. Today in the devotional plan, Hagar is the woman that we watch. She is a slave to Sarai and Abram that they acquired while in Egypt. For all we see, Hagar and Sarai were completely satisfied with each other up to the point when Sarai decided to take matters into her own hands and get Abram a son through Hagar.
Poor Hagar! To be forced to marry your mistress' husband and bear him a child, I can't even begin to understand. Hagar learned of her pregnancy and despised Sarai because of it. She had no control over what happened to her because she was a slave and her mistress had forced her to do something she obviously didn't want to do.
After being mistreated by Sarai and running away and then being told by God to return and submit to Sarai with a promise that her son would become another great nation, Hagar returned to Sarai and continued to serve her while raising her son, Ishmael. Once Isaac was born, things changed. Sarah hated Ishmael because he was a threat to Isaac's inheritance and so she told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Hagar was sent and she took her son and they began to wander. When they were out of water and were so dehydrated that Hagar couldn't stand to watch Ishmael die, she left him under a bush and walked away before giving up herself. However, God heard Ishmael and directed Hagar to a well where she could fill her water. He took care of her needs and didn't abandon her.
We need to remember, when we feel hopeless and helpless, God will always be there. He's not going to forsake us or forget us.
-Meg
-maybe we should focus and pray like this each day of our lives "Good morning, Lord. I lift up my voice in desperate need of your mercy right now-this day! My only option is You." -She Reads Truth: Women in the Bible, Part 1
-God is always by our side, we can't give up because he doesn't give up.
-Don't wait til you hit rock bottom to ask God for help.
-Tiff
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