Hagar had been hurt. She left her safety behind because she would rather take a chance on running away, even if it meant dying. Things must have been really awful. She was in the wilderness, sure that no one cared and that no one could hear her heart. In her time of need, Jesus came to her. Yes, Jesus is the angel of the LORD. He told her that she was pregnant with a boy and that she should name him Ishmael, which means “God hears.” God heard her pain. She was not selected to carry the Seed, yet God sensed her pain. He hears us when we are at our lowest. We may assume that no one else understands, yet the angel of the LORD does. He hears our pain.
The sons of Ishmael have done what verse 12 says. Then she responded to the LORD, who was speaking to her (note that the angel of the LORD and the LORD are used interchangeably), “You are the God who sees me.” God not only hears our pain, but He also observes what’s going on in our lives. He does care. God sent her back to Sarah, and she was free to depart. Now she knew that God saw and heard her, and that was all she needed to know. It should be enough for each situation we find ourselves in. He hears and sees. He is with you and understands you better than anyone else. You do have someone to turn to. He has heard and seen all you’ve been through. “No one ever cared for me like Jesus.”
Meditation: The Lord hears my pain and cares. He gives comfort to people who are sad.
Genesis 16:11-13 11The angel of the LORD also said to her: “You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. 12He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” 13She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
