A long time ago, there lived a woman named Hagar. She served in Abraham’s house, a man who trusted in God and had many adventures with Him. But one day Hagar felt very sad and alone. So she decided to run away, far away into the desert.
It was hot and dry in the desert, and soon Hagar became tired and thirsty. She didn’t know where to go and felt like she was lost in the endless desert. Just when she felt really alone, an angel of God appeared before her. The angel shone brightly and spoke lovingly to her: “Hagar, where do you come from and where are you going?”
Hagar told the angel about all her sorrow and why she had run away. The angel listened attentively to her and then said, “Return to your mistress and obey her. But don’t be afraid. God has seen your suffering and heard your need.”
The angel promised Hagar something special: “I will multiply your descendants, so that they cannot be numbered.” This meant that Hagar would have a large and important family. In this way, God wanted to bless her and give her hope.
Hagar was amazed and comforted. God’s angel had found her in the wilderness when she had felt completely lost. She gave God a name and said, “You are the God who sees me.” This meant that Hagar knew that God was always with her and had never forgotten her.
After this special encounter in the desert, Hagar felt stronger and more courageous. She did as the angel had told her and returned. She knew now that God saw her and always paid attention to her, no matter where she was.
Message of history
God always sees us and listens to us, even when we feel alone or lost. We are never really alone, because God cares about us and helps us.
Bible passage
The story of Hagar and the angel in the wilderness is found in Genesis 16:7-14:
“And the angel of the Lord found them by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maidservant, where do you come from, and where do you want to go?” She said, “I have fled from my mistress Sarai.” Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your lady and humble yourself under her hand.” And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Behold, I will multiply your seed so that it will be innumerable before a great multitude.” And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Behold, you have conceived, and you will give birth to a son, whose name you shall call Ishmael; for the Lord has listened to your affliction. And he will be a wild man, his hand against all, and the hand of all against him; and he will dwell against all his brethren. And she said the name of the Lord, who said to her, “You are the God who sees me.” For she said, “Have I not also looked here after him who looked at me?” That’s why the fountain was called: Beer-Lahai-Roi. Behold, he is between Kadesh and Bared.”
