From Rejection to Revelation: Hagar’s Divine Encounter
- Margaret
- Nov 17
- 3 min read
In the shadows of Abraham and Sarah’s story lies a woman whose journey speaks volumes about God’s compassion, sovereignty, and redemptive power. Her name is Hagar, a servant, a mother, and a woman who encountered God in the wilderness. Hagar's narrative is often overshadowed by the more prominent figures of Abraham and Sarah, yet her story is integral to understanding the broader themes of faith, struggle, and divine intervention that permeate the biblical text.
Rejected but Not Forgotten
Hagar's journey into rejection started the moment she became pregnant.. Genesis 16:4 tells us that after she became pregnant, she began to look down on Sarah with contempt. What started as a desperate plan to build a family through Hagar quickly unraveled into bitterness and broken trust. Sarah, wounded and humiliated, turned to Abraham in frustration. But instead of intervening, Abraham told her, “Do with her as you please.”
Empowered by his passivity, Sarah treated Hagar so harshly that Hagar escaped into the wilderness, alone and pregnant. She was a woman cast out by those who held power over her. Rejected, alone, and invisible. Yet even in her lowest moment, God met her.
The Wilderness Encounter
In Genesis 16, the Angel of the Lord found Hagar by a spring and called her by name. This was no ordinary moment, it was a divine appointment. God didn’t just see her situation; He saw her.
Hagar responded with awe and reverence, declaring:
“You are the God who sees me.” — Genesis 16:13
She named Him El Roi, becoming the first person in Scripture to give God a name. In her rejection, she received revelation; a personal encounter with the God who sees, hears, and responds. This divine encounter transformed her pain into purpose. Her rejection became the doorway to revelation.
Her Role in God’s Bigger Plan
Although Hagar was not included in the covenant line through Isaac, her story always remained within God's sovereign plan. In Genesis 17:20, God clearly tells Abraham:
“As for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.”
This promise affirms that Hagar’s son, Ishmael, was included in the broader fulfillment of God’s word; that Abraham would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4). Ishmael’s descendants became a multitude, forming tribes and peoples that shaped the ancient world. Hagar’s role was not incidental, it was instrumental. Her life and legacy were woven into the divine plan to expand Abraham’s influence beyond Israel. She was a mother of nations, a vessel through whom God demonstrated that His promises are not confined to human expectations.
Through Hagar and Ishmael, we see that God’s promises are not limited by human hierarchy—His blessings extend to all who are part of His divine design.
Hagar's story reminds us that God’s covenant is expansive, and His blessings reach further than we often imagine.
A New Testament Reflection: Two Women, Two Covenants
In Galatians 4:21–31, the Apostle Paul revisits the story of Hagar and Sarah, not to diminish either woman, but to reveal a deeper spiritual truth. He portrays them as a symbolic representation of the two covenants:
Hagar represents the old covenant, given at Mount Sinai, symbolizing bondage under the law.
Sarah represents the new covenant, fulfilled in Christ, symbolizing freedom through grace.
The Apostle Paul compares the “children of the bondwoman” to the “children of the freewoman,” encouraging believers to embrace the freedom of faith rather than the burden of the law. This compelling metaphor highlights that our identity in Christ is founded not on effort, but on promise. Hagar’s narrative, despite its origins in suffering and rejection, serves as a crucial theological element in distinguishing between law and grace. Her life, initially characterized by exclusion, is now deeply intertwined with the core of the gospel message.
Final Reflection
Hagar’s divine encounter transforms her from a rejected servant to a woman of revelation. Her story is proof that God sees us in our lowest moments and meets us with purpose. So if you find yourself in a wilderness season, take heart. The same God who saw Hagar sees you. He calls you by name. He has a promise for your future.
From rejection to revelation; your encounter with El Roi can change everything.
Thank you for reading!
I remain Yours in the Faith
Margaret (MKO)
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