So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.
Today’s post follows on from Monday’s post Jehovah Jireh, on the topic of God providing. I was reading the story of Hagar on Saturday just before writing Monday’s post. It occurred to me as I read the story of Hagar’s rejection by Sarah and Abraham that her story was an excellent illustration of God as Provider. She and her son were rejected by them, but they were not rejected by God.
They “wandered about in the wilderness” with no sense of where to go, and their bread and water quickly ran out. Their situation appeared hopeless and doomed to utter failure. Hagar left her lad under a bush not far from her, so that she would not see him die. The cries of her son would still reach her and torture her heart, but she was not the only one to hear them.
In verse 17 we find that “God heard the lad crying.” It is a touching thought that the God of the Universe can hear a single cry in an obscure place, and His heart is touched. God heard. The Almighty sent the Angel of God to speak on his behalf: “What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.” God spoke. In verse 18 He commanded Hagar to act: “Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” God commanded with purpose. In verse 19 He opened her eyes to His provision: “Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink.” God provided. And we see in verse 20 God did not leave the lad: “God was with the lad, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness and became an archer.” God did not leave!
Dear Reader, as God’s children through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, we can apply this story of God’s provision to us. Hagar’s son, Ishmael, was covered by God’s promise to Abraham, and we are covered by God’s promise through Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Saviour, in whom we are adopted into God’s family. We can come to His throne through our Lord, knowing that He hears us and speaks to us in the Spirit. He leads us to our provision, and He will not leave us!
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Devotional Treasures
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