Tues.’s Devo - Hagar’s Plight

Read Gen. 16:1-18:19, Matt. 6:1-24, Ps. 7:1-17, Pro. 2:1-5 Today, I was drawn to Hagar. It must have been hard enough to be Sarah’s maid, but now she must be Abraham’s sex slave and bear his child. When the child is born, he won’t even be considered Hagar’s child and she won’t get to make the decisions about his life. How devastating. No wonder she hated Sarah when she found out she was pregnant. Abraham chose Sarah’s side and Hagar was left to the cruel hands of Sarah. When it got too hard for Hagar, she ran…. right into God’s arms. He told her to go back and submit to their abuse because she was going to have a son named Ishmael. He would be wild and hated by all. For thirteen years, Abraham thought Ishmael would be the heir and treated him like the firstborn. Then God and three of his angels appeared to Abraham and told him that Ishmael would not be the heir, but that he and Sarah would have a son. Sarah heard his prophecy and laughed in her heart. The Lord commented on Sarah’s hidden reaction and asked her a great question, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” When Sarah tried to denied that she laughed, the angels said, “No; but you did laugh.” In Matthew we read that things done in secret, are very important in heaven - good or bad. Little did Sarah know that her unbelief would be written about in a book called the Bible and that people for generations would know what she did. I wonder if we would change our reactions if we realized heaven was watching and recording. Actually, we do know that our good deeds are being written down in a book of remembrance. In spite of Abraham and Sarah’s shortcomings, they were both given a new name that was a promotion. In spite of our shortcomings, we have been given a new name that cleanses us from all our sins and makes us useful to the kingdom. God, you are our shield and Most High God; a righteous judge. We cry out for understanding and knowledge.