There
is a woman spoken of in the Old Testament that is not highly considered or
regarded. Her name is Hagar and her life story rends my heart. The
Genesis account of the Old Testament simply states that she was Egyptian and
that she was Sarah's maid but one other source gives more insight into her
life. It claims that Hagar was one of the daughters of Pharaoh and that
she was given to Sarah when she and Abraham left Egypt to continue their
journey to Canaan (Ginzberg, “Legends of the Jews”, 1:223). Considering the
riches that Pharaoh showered Abraham and Sarah with as they left Egypt (Genesis
12:16), this claim seems very plausible. In this context, Hagar's life of
hardship begins at this point in history as does the triangle of trial for these
three extraordinary people.
Under
Sarah's tutelage, Hagar grew into spiritual maturity as she forsook the
religious idols of her home and came to know the God of Israel (Ginzberg,
Legends of the Jews, 1:23). Imagine, however, a young girl of royal birth, sent
away from her home to be the property of total strangers, therefore a slave.
But
there was more. According to Bible scholars and modern-day revelation, it was
the law for a woman who could not provide children for her husband, to give him
another wife to ensure continuation of his family line (D&C 132:34). Sarah
decided that Abraham's next wife would be Hagar. I doubt if Hagar had much
choice in the matter, being in the situation she was in. I imagine Hagar was
fairly young since she fell pregnant straight away, whereas Abraham was 86
years old (Genesis 16:16).
The
Old Testament records that Hagar became insolent towards Sarah once she knew
she was pregnant (Genesis 16:4). Inexcusable I know, but maybe for once she
felt she was worth something more than being a maid. She was now a wife of a
rich man and she was going to be a mother, but not really....she was only a
second wife with no rights and her child would by law belong to Sarah. She was
a concubine. Imagine being of such lowly station for one of royal birth.
When she couldn't take Sarah's correction of her behaviour Sarah fled in search
of freedom (Genesis 16:6). Insolent but understandable.
When
the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain ‘in the way to Shur’, he told
Hagar "the Lord hath heard thy affliction" (Genesis 16:11); that she
will not be overlooked by Him, that she will have a son and that her posterity
will not be able to be numbered for multitude (Genesis 16:10). In other words,
"I will make it up to you Hagar for the life you are required to
live".
And
then the angel asked her a crucial question: “Knowest thou that God sees thee???”
(JST Genesis 16:15) and Hagar answered she knew that He sees her and that she
came here looking for Him (v 16). That confirms to me Hagar’s faith. If nobody
else can see her life, she knew that God does.
This
confirmation from the angel must have been what enabled her return to Sarah
bearable for “God has heard” that watched over the deeds of men and assists
them in their suffering (E. Couglas Clark, “The Blessings of Abraham”, p 163)
One
thing I do believe: Hagar was a good woman. Ishmael and Isaac remained close as
Genesis records that they buried their father together (Genesis 25:9). This is
how I know Hagar was a good woman: there was no hatred or animosity between
Ishmael and Isaac. The credit for that goes to two mothers who didn't teach their
sons to hate but to love and who had explicit faith in the God who hears and
sees all…..
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Artist Unknown)
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