Can You See HAGAR Sarais Servant Genesis 16

Can You See HAGAR?

Sarai’s Servant Genesis 16: 1 -6 • v. 1, Sarai is rich, free and barren. Hagar is single, poor, and bonded. • v. 2 -3, Hagar becomes a means to an end. “Perhaps I will be built up in her. ” • v. 4, Instead of being built up, Hagar “looked with contempt on her mistress. ” • v. 5 -6, Sarai blames others for the consequence of her choice. “Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. ”

Hagar Is Heard Genesis 16: 7 -13 • v. 7, First time in the Bible that an angel appears to a human. • v. 8 a, First time anyone in the story speaks to Hagar, and she is even called by name! • v. 8 b, First time that Hagar speaks in the story. She knows where she is from, not where she is going. • v. 9 -12, Though commanded to return, Hagar’s pregnancy is blessed. • The name “Ishmael” means “God hears. ”

Hagar Is Seen • v. 13, Hagar is the first person in the Bible to “name” the Lord. She calls Him “The God Who Sees Me. ” • God is the only one in this story who dignifies Hagar as a human being made in His image. • “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me. ”

The Second Exile • Genesis 21: 8 -21 • After Isaac is born, the animosity of Sarah is broadened to include Ismael. • v. 10, “Cast out this slave woman with her son” • v. 11 -13, Despite Abraham’s displeasure, God tells him to consent to Sarah. God will watch over Hagar and Ishmael. • v. 14, Once again, Hagar finds herself exiled and dismissed.

The Second Exile • v. 15 -16, After the water runs out, Hagar weeps for her son. • v. 17, God hears her cries. • v. 18, God renews His promise. • v. 19, God “opens her eyes. ” • v. 20, “And God was with the boy, and he grew up. ” • God does not see merely “Sarai’s slave. ” • God sees Hagar, and He cares for her.

If He Were a Prophet … Luke 7: 36 -39 • v. 36, Jesus set down to eat in the home of a Pharisee. • v. 37 -38, A woman who was a “sinner” anoints the feet of Jesus and “wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. ” • v. 39, The Pharisees overlook the extravagant act of love and see only Jesus coming into contact with a person who is a “sinner. ” • v. 40 -43, A short parable …

Do You See This Woman? Luke 7: 44 -50 • v. 44 a, “Do you see this woman? ” • When Sarai looked at Hagar, she saw a slave. • When the Pharisee looked at this woman, he saw a sinner. • Jesus asks, “Do you see this woman? ” • Are we able to see and appreciate the lost, the needy, the downtrodden, and those considered to be the “least among us”?

Do You See This Woman? • v. 44 b-46, This woman who many despised showed great love to Jesus where others had been merely “polite. ” • v. 47, Jesus sees her plight, her sin, and her love. He offers forgiveness to this woman though many could not even see her. • v. 48, Jesus addresses her directly. He treats her as a person. He sees her. • v. 49 -50, “Who is this, who even forgives sins? ” • He is the God who sees.