“And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” ” Genesis 16:8 (NKJV)
Picking up the story from yesterday, Sarai asked Abram to take her maid, Hagar, and have a child by her since Sarai had been unable to bear a child. However, when the child was conceived, jealously reared its ugly head. The maid was now valued because she was pregnant and the wife couldn’t get pregnant. Definitely an upset of power and authority within the household.
Sarai complained to Abram. He turned the situation back to Sarai, because he took Hagar only because Sarai told him to (Genesis 16:6). Sarai did not show any kind of compassion to Hagar but was so harsh with her that Hagar fled from Abram’s camp.
How many times have I fled a situation when faced with underserved harshness? Hagar hadn’t asked to be put in the position of a second wife, only wanted for the child she might be able to bear. Her response mirrors my emotional state in similar types of situations. If I’m not wanted (or I perceive that I’m not wanted) my first response is to leave and get the situation behind me. I don’t want to stick around and make things unpleasant for someone else (because undoubtedly that would also become unpleasant for me too!).
But Hagar was not forgotten by the one who created her. Genesis uses the name “Angel of the Lord” which is one of the names given to Jesus before his birth in Bethlehem. Jesus comes to Hagar in the wilderness and asks why she’s there, where she’s come from. He already knew, but in asking He caused her to look objectively at the situation rather than emotionally.
How often Christ has come to me through reading the Bible, listening to Christian music, through a friend’s words, through thoughts brought to mind by the Holy Spirit! He comes and turns my focus from the emotional, out-of-proportion explosion to the factual issues. He calms my spirit. He causes me to remember that He is there with me through every situation.
Listen today to “Come Holy Spirit, I Need You,” because I need the Holy Spirit to calm my spirit each and every day.
Published on MyBibleRoom.com 1/7/24, 6:00 am