You are seen and heard: Lessons from Hagar's encounters with God

Good day

 

I hope you are doing incredibly well. I am ok. I am just thinking about my life and dreams. I used to be such a dreamer, and for some reason, I have allowed myself to cease dreaming and pursuing the dreams I already had. I need this to change, and so my objective for 2026 is to really work on myself to realise my potential, thus becoming who God created me to be. I no longer want to reflect on my life and be confronted by persistent stagnancy and complacency, as well as excuses. I thank God that my pastor is really dealing with aspects of my life in his teachings. We finished a February 2026 series addressing one’s identity, belonging, purpose, etc. It was called the S.H.A.P.E. series, which aimed to equip believers and cause them to be fit for purpose, as well as walk in their giftings and callings with great confidence - Please check out Cyril Peterson’s YouTube for the messages.

 

Happy, come back; it is too early for this! Sorry, let me get back to it; I am deviating before even starting. So, we are finally going back to Hagar. I indicated in the past two blogs that I still had a desire to write a bit more about her story and what I learnt from her recorded life. Hagar?! what an interesting woman who struggled with her sense of purpose and belonging. Hey, wait a minute. I thought I was deviating with my intro, but thinking of it, how befitting. “Girl” needed the S.H.A.P.E. series herself.

 

I laugh at how we think we're alone in our experiences and that others don't understand us. Ironically, our experiences share similarities, and simple fellowship or engagements, along with reading or listening to podcasts, reveal this truth. Also, the solutions to challenges we face can be found through the same avenues as people share their stories. My goodness! This is where we realise the probable impact of a testimony. A shared story of overcoming can potentially spare another person from prolonged issues, heartache, and stress. I am doing it again, aren’t I? Let’s go to Genesis 16

 

⁷ But ^[a]the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness on the road to Shur. ⁸ And He said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where did you come from, and where are you intending to go? And she said, I am running away from my mistress Sarai. ⁹ The Angel of the Lord said to her, Go back to your mistress and [humbly] submit to her control. ¹⁰ Also the Angel of the Lord said to her, I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be numbered for multitude.

 

¹¹ And the Angel of the Lord continued, See now, you are with child and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael [God hears], because the Lord has heard and paid attention to your affliction. ¹² And he [Ishmael] will be as a ^[b]wild ass among men; his hand will be against every man and every man’s hand against him, and he will live to the east and on the borders of all his kinsmen.

 

There are several things that stood out for me in the above text, and I would like to take a moment and reflect on those things.

 

Firstly, the angel of the Lord found her. He, upon finding her, mentioned her name and who she was identified as. There was, therefore, intent in his approach and pursuit. The meeting was not a mistake—God does not make mistakes. Please indulge me for a few seconds as I climb my imaginary Mount Everest and shout for the world to hear and hopefully accept: GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES!!! Amen.

 

Secondly, he asked her where she was from and where she was going. These are questions he already knew answers to. His questioning reminded me of how God, who is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, wants to relate with us. He knows everything, but He wants to hear from us; He wants a relationship with us. God wants us to share our lives with Him.

 

Hagar responded by indicating that she ran away, and he listened to her. After sharing with the angel, an instruction (not a suggestion) was given that she should go back and humbly submit to Sarai. God is sovereign; He does what He wants! I don’t think Hagar wanted to go back; also, God knows that later He would instruct Abraham to send her away, but He still made the decision He made because it was not yet time for Hagar to leave Abraham’s house. Just because something makes sense and seems justifiable to you does not mean God will agree to it. This does not mean God does not care or love us. In fact, it shows just how much He is involved in everything that pertains to our lives because He loves and cares for us so much. He does what is best for us even though it does not feel like it at times.

 

I don’t know why, but I am extremely excited. I am literally having a ball thinking and writing about this. Let me take a deep breath…ok.

 

Thirdly, the angel did not stop at issuing an instruction. He proceeded to tell her of God’s plans for her life and the son she carried in her belly. Hagar was told in so many words (i.e., verses 10 – 12) that she had value and there was something meaningful that would be established through her and what she bore. She was subsequently told what many of us easily forget when we are faced with challenges and doubts: “The Lord has heard thy affliction”. I would like to take a moment and remind everyone that God is not blind, He see everything, and He knows everything. Job 34: ²¹ “For His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all his steps.” Proverbs 15: ³ “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

 

Do not allow yourself to be so overwhelmed by things that you forget whose you are; Hagar forgot. Your background, failures, weaknesses, and shortcomings do not determine your worth, and they do not disqualify you from being God’s children, ordained and purposed for great things, and saved unto good works. God loves us so much! I, therefore, want to take this moment and reiterate the words above especially for those who have forgotten: “The Lord has heard thy affliction”. Do not withdraw from Him!

 

So, Hagar is told that her son’s name would be Ishmael, meaning "God hears," because the Lord had heard her affliction. She then responds, let’s read:

 

 ¹³ So she called the name of the Lord Who spoke to her, You are a God of seeing, for she said, Have I [not] even here [in the wilderness] looked upon Him Who sees me [and lived]? Or have I here also seen [the future purposes or designs of] Him Who sees me? ¹⁴ Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi [A well to the Living One Who sees me]; it is ^[c]between Kadesh and Bered.

 

NIV

¹³ 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[c] the One who sees me.” ¹⁴ That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi[d]; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.

 

Wow, this blows my mind. Hagar said that God saw her. Why would she say that? Well, she escaped, yet He found her; she had a justifiable reason for fleeing, yet He instructed her to go back; she never thought she could be of great value in the plans of God, yet He thought her worthy to become a matriarch of a nation through her son; she did not think her voice and afflictions mattered, yet He heard them and responded. Did everything go according to her plan? No, it did not, but in the plan of God, she saw herself accepted, seen, heard, belonging, worthy, and valuable.

 

There is something else that we find in verse 13 of the same chapter that we have known and repeatedly read in scripture, however, in this instance we encounter it as the experience of an Egyptian servant who fled her master’s home: God spoke to her. “And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her”

 

I find myself elated on hers and our behalf. The scriptures above expressly state that a woman who wrote herself off and did not think much of her sense of being encountered, in the wilderness, the God who saw, heard and spoke to her. May this remind all of us that we are seen and heard by the Lord Jesus Christ; furthermore, He speaks to us. God speaks to us! May we, please, pay attention to Him.

 

Fourthly, after naming the well Beer Lahai Roi, she went back and submitted to Sarai. How many of us would say to the Lord that He sees us after telling us to go back to the place of trials and turmoil? How many of us would praise and appreciate Him for wrecking our plans and implementing His will, which would likely result in our discomfort? I can’t begin to imagine the difficulty of going back and submitting to Sarai again. After encountering God as she did, she obeyed. She did not sit back and bask in the knowledge of God affections for her, she yielded to Him. I pray that the Word of God, as well as our encounters with Him compel us to yield and obey! Go back and tarry until He releases you, then leave!

 

Let’s quickly jump to Genesis 21 where Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away (God finally released them).

 

¹⁰ Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” ¹¹ And the matter was very [d]displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son.¹² But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. ¹³ Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your [e]seed

 

The time finally came for Hagar to leave Sarah’s house and this time around God said she should go. Do not move away from where God placed you until He releases you (by the way, this is what the next blog will be about).  Let’s proceed with Genesis 21:

 

¹⁵ And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. ¹⁶ Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. ¹⁷ And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. ¹⁸ Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”

 

¹⁹ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. ²⁰ So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

 

I believe that one of the reasons why it was important for Hagar to go back to Sarai’s house was so that Ishmael may have a solid foundation and a sense of belonging. Ishmael had to know his father and receive fundamental teachings, as well as principles as a member of Abraham’s household. Why is this important? Abraham was the father of many nations among which we find Israel. Remember, he later had 6 sons with Keturah, which means that through them, he fathered even more nations. God, in chapter 16 already told Hagar that Ishmael would become a nation. How would he then become a nation within Abraham’s fold if he lacked everything that was representative of Abraham, i.e., values, principles, covenants, practices, ideologies, etc.? This is not to say that there were no practical deviations by his nation from what God ordained, but the foundation had to be established before he could leave his father’s house.

 

Now that I have shared my thoughts on the return of Hagar, let’s continue.

 

In chapter 16 Hagar encountered God as one who heard, saw and spoke to her, but in chapter 21 she faced another huddle, and completely forgot the nature of the God she previously encountered. Something many of us are familiar with. How many of us forget the promises of God when we face fresh trials and challenges? How many of us forget our testimonies from yesterday because the magnitude of today’s problems seems so great? We easily forget the precedence that God has set and find ourselves weeping in the wilderness like Hagar without hope or direction.

 

This is not an indictment on the emotions we go through during hardships but rather a reminder to weep with hope because we are standing on the promises God has made and He is faithful to keep His word. If you want or need to cry, please do so but not hopelessly. Lazarus died and was buried. When Jesus was told, He wept, fully aware that He would raise Lazarus from the dead. He expressed His emotions despite knowing that Lazarus would live again. Cry with the assurance that God will fulfil His promises to you.

 

So, Hagar was crying, but there was something that her son was doing: “and lifted her voice and wept. ¹⁷ And God heard the voice of the lad.” There is something that came out of the mouth of the lad that God heard and responded to. Remember the meaning of Ishmael is “God hears," and indeed God heard him and sent his angel to Hagar to give instructions for the moment, as well as remind her of what was previously said. Words that she needed to hold on to and steward but momentarily forgot.

 

Please remember what God has said to you. Please believe and steward what you were promised. Pray about His promises, talk to Him about them, and stand on them even when it gets hard. Never allow fear, circumstances, or even the enemy to cause you to lose your footing, i.e., forget what God said. Never be disoriented about what God said and do not forget. (Hebrews 2:1) "Therefore, we must give [a] the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away" (Hagar forgot and drifted away).

 

When faced with challenges, pray and recite God’s word and those prophecies and/or promises that you have received. Do not be deterred; “when you have done all to stand, stand." When premature death comes knocking at your door, stand on God’s Word; when bad/wrong reports are issued, remain standing; when false accusations come, keep on standing; when opportunities fall through, stand; when rejection sets in, stand on the truth (the word). JUST STAND! We might as well just read Ephesian 6 because that is the scripture my mind has been pondering on:

 

^“13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”

 

At this point my deviations / detours no longer shock you. Let’s just get back on track.

 

Hagar forgot that God saw, heard and spoke to her, but God did not forsake her. Instead, the angel, knowing very well why Hagar wept, asked her why she cried and told her that God heard her son. What an incredible reminder that God still heard and was still concerned about her. This time around, the angel did not wait for an answer but rather told her to lift her son, hold him by the hand, and also remind her of his destiny; additionally, he open her eyes to a well so she could draw water to quench their thirst. They drank water, and the wilderness became their home. There they experienced the provision of the Lord and God was with Ishmael.

 

Hagar was an Egyptian servant who later became a surrogate for her mistress. As a result of her conduct, the mistress rejected the child she carried and dealt with her harshly. A woman who had a challenge of identity and value because of how her life unfolded. This woman, who was rejected and dejected, would be loved, seen, heard, guided, spoken to and wanted by God. Whatever you are dealing with, the same God that showed up for Hagar is concerned about you. He loves you and wants you. He has your life so beautifully planned out. Please yield to Him; please run to Him; please speak / cry to Him.

 

As I wrap up, Hagar’s story reminds of two hymns:

 

Amazing grace by John Newton

 

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch; like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

 

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!

 

The Lord hath promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.

 

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.

 

Ha ke le tjee, ke le mobe (Sotho Hymn) from Difela tsa Sione (translated hymns of Zion)

 

Ha ke le tjee, ke le mobe, ke le ya khesehang, Na har'a baetsadibe 'na ke bonoe jwang?

 

Jo, ke mohlo-hlolo (It’s a miracle)
Ha ke ratwa le 'na (that I, too, are loved)
Ka rato le lekalo (with such immeasurable love)
Le ke Morena (this is of the Lord / this is the Lord)

 

O nkentse jwang moratuwa, ntho e hlokolosi. Le daemane ya bohlokwa, 'na molefatshe?

 
Jo, ke mohlo-hlolo ha ke ratwa le 'na ka rato le lekalo, Le ke Morena (Chorus)

 

Wa mpatla, Wa mpatlisisa ka dilemo-lemo; Wa mphumana, wa mphedisa, Oona Modimo.

Jo, ke mohlo-hlolo ha ke ratwa le 'na ka rato le lekalo, Le ke Morena (Chorus)

 

Ke phela ka boiketlo atleng tsa Morena; Ke ka thaka ya leihlo le 'na ho eena,

Jo, ke mohlo-hlolo ha ke ratwa le 'na ka rato le lekalo, Le ke Morena (Chorus)

 

Hagar was not a meaningless piece of a puzzle. She did not exist solely for pain, rejection, mockery and everything else that she did or endured. She, like you and I, lived for a reason. Let us not squander the lives and opportunities that God has given us. Let us live well and glorify the name of the Living God! Remember God hears, sees and speaks to us!

 

Love Happy