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What Sarah & Hagar Teach Us About God’s Faithfulness in Our Messy Choices

Some stories in Scripture feel uncomfortably familiar. They show us not only faith and miracles, but also impatience, broken relationships, and the struggle for survival. One of those stories is that of Sarah, Abraham, and Hagar.

It’s not a tidy narrative. There’s frustration, pain, blame, and running away. And yet—woven through it all—we see the covenant-keeping faithfulness of God.


The Weight of Waiting

Sarah had waited years for a child. Every passing season must have deepened her ache, especially in a culture where barrenness was a heavy stigma. Out of desperation, she offered her Egyptian servant, Hagar, to Abraham as a way to “solve” the waiting. Abraham agreed, and soon Hagar was pregnant.

But instead of solving the problem, the household unravelled. Hagar despised Sarah. Sarah mistreated Hagar. Abraham stood torn in the middle. What began as a human solution quickly gave rise to resentment and division.

 

The God Who Sees the Overlooked

Hagar fled into the wilderness, alone and wounded. But there, by a spring of water, the angel of the Lord found her. He acknowledged her pain, gave her a promise for her son, and revealed a name she would never forget:

“You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).

In a culture that labelled her as “slave” and “outsider,” God gave her dignity and hope. He heard her cries and assured her that Ishmael, too, would become a great nation.

 

God’s Covenant Stands Firm

Years later, Sarah finally gave birth to Isaac, the child of promise. Her laughter turned from bitterness to joy. But tension returned when Ishmael mocked Isaac, and Sarah asked Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away.

It’s a heartbreaking moment. Abraham hesitated, but God reassured him that His covenant with Isaac would not cancel His care for Ishmael. Both boys were included in God’s larger redemptive plan.

When Hagar despaired in the desert, convinced her son would die, God again heard their cries. He opened her eyes to see a well of water and sustained them.


Lessons for Us Today

  1. Our shortcuts create mess, but God’s covenant never fails.
    Sarah’s plan only brought conflict, yet God’s promise still stood. His purposes are never derailed by our weakness.
  2. God sees the overlooked.
    Like Hagar, you may feel pushed aside, forgotten, or mislabelled. El Roi—the God who sees—knows your story.
  3. Faith sometimes falters, but God remains faithful.
    Sarah laughed in disbelief before she laughed in joy. Abraham struggled with the tension. Hagar ran away. But God’s mercy met them all.

 

Final Thought

The story of Sarah, Hagar, and Abraham reminds us that God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our perfection. Even in the middle of impatience, poor choices, or pain, His covenant love holds firm.

Your story may feel messy, but His promise is steady. He sees you. He hears you. And He will not abandon you.

PS: Read full story in Genesis 16 & 21

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