When Heaven Meets the Hurting
Genesis 16:7–9 (NASB95)
7Now the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” 9Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.”
Genesis 16:7-9 tells the story of Hagar, an Egyptian servant, who fled into the wilderness after suffering harsh treatment from Sarai. Alone and pregnant, Hagar sat by a spring in the wilderness of Shur, a barren region near Egypt. At this moment, the angel of the Lord appeared to her. This is the first time the angel of the Lord appears in the Bible. The angel is not just a messenger. He speaks as God and is later identified as God Himself. God meets Hagar in her distress. He does not ignore her pain or her status as an outsider.
The angel asks Hagar where she has come from and where she is going. God already knows the answers. He invites Hagar to reflect on her journey and her future. Then the angel tells her to return to Sarai and submit to her. This command is difficult. Why would God send Hagar back to a place of suffering? The answer is not that God approves of injustice or slavery. God never supports the mistreatment of any person. Instead, God acts for Hagar and Ishmael’s future. Under Abraham’s protection, Ishmael will have a future, a promise, and a place in the story of God’s people. If Hagar stays in the wilderness, she and her child may die. And what life would they have in Egypt, separate from God's covenant people? God’s command is not an endorsement of abuse. It is a step toward hope and survival.
God’s care for Hagar shows His heart for the marginalized and forgotten. Hagar is a foreigner, a servant, and a woman with no power. Yet God seeks her out. He gives her a promise for her son. He assures her that she is seen and valued.
This story is a call to action. God cares for the hurting, the outsider, and the oppressed. We must do the same. Churches should seek out those who are alone, afraid, or forgotten. We must offer hope, practical help, and a place of belonging. God’s people are called to reflect His compassion. Every person matters to God, no matter their background or situation. When we follow God’s example, we become a community where the hurt find a future.