Ask God to Open Your Eyes
God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.” Genesis 21:17.
Hagar had been kicked out of her home and sent to wander in the Desert of Beersheba with her son, Ishmael. After she’d used up the provisions Abraham had given her, she put her son under one of the bushes and sat where she couldn’t watch him dying of thirst.
She’d been in the wilderness before. Years earlier, she’d fled from her mistress Sarah’s cruelty. The angel of the Lord had sent her back to Abraham’s household. God told her she was pregnant and would bear a son. She was to name him Ishmael, which means ‘God hears’ for the Lord had heard of her misery. He promised her descendants would be so many “that they will be too numerous to count” (Genesis 16:10-11).
But she couldn’t return this time. Abraham had sent Ishmael and Hagar away because God confirmed that they should go. There wasn’t room in Abraham’s household for two heirs. Hagar began to sob, feeling all alone. Her situation seemed hopeless (Gen 21:15-16). Even God had abandoned her. She expected to die.
But God heard the cries of Ishmael and his mother. She heard a voice from heaven, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation” (vv. 17-18).
He opened her eyes and she saw a pile of rocks that turned out to be a well of water. She filled her skin with water and gave Ishmael a drink.
God did care about these homeless ones. She couldn’t go back, but she could go forward, sure that God would be with them. They’d make their home in the desert. Later, Ishmael married an Egyptian woman and they had many descendants (Genesis 21:15-21).
Does your situation seem hopeless? You can’t go back to where you were? You know the promises of God, and yet they don’t seem to apply to you? You feel he has abandoned you.
Ask God to open your eyes to see his provision for you. He not only has provided for your needs, but he also hears your cries. You don’t even have to use words; he hears your heart. He’ll never abandon you (Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5). Take the first next step, and you’ll see he has a plan for your life.
Dig Deeper:
God has a special concern for children living without a father and for women living without a husband. How does he provide for them according to Deuteronomy 10:18? What are some organizations you know who are God’s instruments in this care today? How can you help?
The two sons of Abraham went in two opposite directions as far as whom they married and how they related to God. How do you see this in Genesis 21:21 and 24:1-67?
God took care of Ishmael because he was Abraham’s son. The promises God made to Abraham about numerous descendants applied to both Isaac and Ishmael. So what was different as seen in Genesis 15:1-5 and 21:12-13?
To read of Hagar’s previous experience in the wilderness see: http://www.digdeeperdevotions.com/2018/07/26/hagar-a-desperate-woman/
Nancy J. Baker
This devotion is part of our series, “Do Not Be Afraid.”
Comments
Amen dear Nancy, He is our Jah Jireh-Provider