Genesis 16:13a “Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees’” NKJV

Our introduction to Hagar in scripture is ambiguous, at best. Here it comes:

             “Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him (Abram); and they escorted him away, with his wife (Sarai) and all that belonged to him.” Genesis 12:20

In case you missed it, the words, “all that belonged to him,” introduce Hagar, for she was a maid-servant, seen as nothing more than a possession. Hagar belonged to Abraham and Sarah and was simply called by them, “the maid.” If it were not for the writer of Genesis, we would never have known she had a name.

As Hagar’s unfortunate story goes, a barren Sarah gave her maid to Abraham so that she might produce their heir. It comes as no surprise that as soon as Hagar became pregnant, the family dynamics turned volatile and Hagar fled to the wilderness.

There in the desperation of the wilderness, Hagar’s life changed forever.

The Angel of God appeared to her, saying, “Hagar, Sarah’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?”

When Hagar explained her plight, the angel instructed her to return to Sarah. But he continued by prophesying of her unborn son: his name would be Ishmael, he would father many descendants, he would be a wild man, and his life would be defined by aggressiveness and war.

What expectant mother in the history of the world would want to hear this said about their child? Maternal instincts render much higher hopes than a wild, aggressive, and fighting offspring!

But Hagar does not panic, nor argue, nor ask for clarification about her baby. (I certainly would have!) Instead, she focused on the fact the angel called her by name.

Perhaps many moons had passed since this woman had heard her name. The fact the angel called her by name assured her she was seen not as a servant, but as a human. She was validated. She was honored. She was a child of God.

So, Hagar returned the honor, assigning God a name: “You-Are-The-God-Who-Sees,” she said.

We too can feel invisible. Our heartbreaks can go unnoticed by others. The words and actions of our family, friends, or co-workers can be insensitive, validating they do not see our struggles. Our efforts can be overlooked. Our name may not be called for recognition.

It is true, the sweetest word in any language is a person’s own name. Although Abraham and Sarah were never recorded in scripture speaking Hagar’s name, God spoke it. If we are to learn anything from this woman’s story, we must know that no matter how much others overlook us, God never does. Our Heavenly Father knows our name. Our Heavenly Father knows our hurts. Our heavenly Father knows how to turn our tragedies into triumphs. He is truly the God Who Sees!

Father God, we are honored that you see us and call us by name.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane