Hagar’s tears

How often must Sarah, Abraham’s wife, have wept! God promised Abraham that he would create a great nation, but the years passed and Sarah remained childless. What became of God’s promise? How difficult it must have been for her to wait for God’s promise! Doubt struck, perhaps disbelief too. The wait was difficult for Abraham and Sarah. Then they did what believers often do when God’s promise seems to be faltering: they decided to lend God a helping hand. Their plan was for Abraham to father a child with Hagar, a woman e who worked for them. Said and done! The plan worked. Hagar became pregnant. Problem solved, right? Well, no!

In fact, a new problem was created, one whose consequences are still felt today. Instead of a solution, pregnant Hagar now became a problem. This problem had to be solved, or rather, resolved. Hagar had to go! “She no longer fits in our plans.” “She’s too much trouble.” There was no place for her in the hearts and homes of Abraham and Sarah. Hagar was discarded as a tool. She was dehumanized, and abandoned. No mercy, no grace. How awful that must have been for her! How many tears must she have shed?

Pregnant Hagar was abandoned by humans, but thankfully not by God. God always has an eye and an ear for the outcasts of this world! God meets her in the desert and comforts and encourages her. He tells her to name her son Ishmael (meaning: God hears), because God saw her tears and heard her cry for help. The God of Abraham was merciful where Abraham failed.

Hagar returned to Abraham and Sarah, and Ishmael was born. Sarah then became pregnant and also had a son: Isaac. God promised Abraham and Sarah that He had special plans for Isaac. He did not specify exactly what these plans would entail.

After Isaac’s birth, disagreement arose again. Abraham and Sarah believed that because God had a special plan for Isaac, there was no place for Ishmael. Once again, Hagar was sent away, this time together with her son Ishmael. Once again, she was excluded! Once again, she was told, “You don’t belong here.” Once again, she was rejected by humans. And again, God showed her His mercy! Once again, she had an encounter with God in the desert. Once again, God came to meet her, comforting and encouraging her.

This story of Sarah and Hagar continues to shape relationships in the Middle East. God’s plan for one group of people doesn’t mean He takes sides and that another group should be dehumanized, sent away, or treated mercilessly. Even today, there are religious people who believe God needs a helping hand in realizing His promises.

Even today, people who don’t fit into our plans, which we think aligns with God’s, are dehumanized, sent away, humiliated, or treated mercilessly. Fortunately, our mercilessness doesn’t nullify God’s mercy.

Even today, God looks with compassion, mercy, and care for those who weep for their children, those who are displaced or fleeing because of injustice. Just as God saw Hagar’s tears and heard Ishmael’s lament, He sees their tears and hears their cry for help.

Although Abraham fell short in mercy, the God of Abraham does not. God sees the many tears of the Hagars and Sarahs in this world and their descendants, and hopefully, we will too!