Hagar, the Namer of God

She lay against the rock panting. The heat surrounded her, dry and monotonous. Images of death played through her mind. She could barely move. She had no water. Alone in the desert, she would die. She had chosen to come here to this desolate place. But some things are worse than death, aren’t they? She had run away from abuse. She wanted to be free, but death? Was death the only way?  

Her parched lips, barely moving, formed a prayer, “Please God.”  She had no idea who or what God was. From her days in Egypt, she remembered the gods of the priests. Those gods were always angry and needed to be appeased. She shuddered. She was sick of appeasing. But death? Was that the only way to escape? She thought of the god of her master and mistress. They said their god was loving and kind – faithful and gracious. If this was true, they were poor examples. 

She had obeyed her mistress, Sarah, who lived in anguish and shame. Year after year, her womb was empty, a curse to any woman. She had slept with her master, Abraham, as Sarah wished. She was with child. But it was not her child. When the child was born, it would belong to her mistress and master. 

Her resentment grew each day. She hated her mistress for it. Yes, sometimes she was rebellious and defiant: talking back, clenching her jaw and fists, refusing to do what she was told. How long could she endure being forced and controlled? Her mistress responded by treating her harshly, beating and isolating her. Finally, she could take it no more. She ran away. A little food and a container of water were all she took, but she was free. Free, yes, but death? She didn’t want to die – she and her baby.  

Suddenly, she sensed a presence – warm air, sweet light, a Being. Fear surged through her body. The Being addressed her. “What are you doing here, and where are you going?”  Haltingly, the words tumbled out in raspy, short sentences. “I . . . ran away. I . . . couldn’t stand it. Now . . . I’m going to . . . die.”  The last sentence was spoken in stark terror. Speaking the words out loud forced her to face the absolute hopelessness of her situation. The Being spoke again, melting her fear like the sun on snow. The voice was like many beautiful musical instruments – lilting and lovely. “Hagar, you will live. You will have a son. I will bless you. You will have many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. You must go back to your mistress. But know this – you are free. I will be with you.” 

She sat up and looked around to better see this Being. “You are God”, she said in awe. “You are the God That Sees Me.”  

The lovely lilting voice spoke again, “Hagar, open your eyes and see.”  She saw a well – a spring in the desert – water and life. The Being faded. New life flowed through her body like a stream. “This is a sacred place. This is the God Sees Me Spring (Beer Lahai Roi). I have seen the One who sees me. I am alive and free.”  Genesis 16

Hagar is the first person in scripture to name God and to receive an annunciation from a divine being. She is a foreigner and a woman. 

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