In this episode of In the Garden, we explore the story of Hagar in Genesis 16, one of the most difficult and powerful narratives in Scripture. Hagar, an Egyptian servant in the household of Abram and Sarai, is thrust into circumstances beyond her control. Sarai gives Hagar to Abram as a wife, hoping to obtain children through her (Gen 16:2–3). From our modern perspective, Hagar is powerless, and what happens to her is rape—she cannot consent, and her body becomes the arena of fear, oppression, and human sin.
Despite the injustice, God meets Hagar in the wilderness. When she flees her mistress, the Angel of the Lord finds her by a spring of water and speaks directly to her (Gen 16:7–9). God’s instructions are both practical and faithful: she is told to return to her mistress and submit (Gen 16:9), not as an endorsement of Sarai’s abuse, but as a path for her protection and survival under God’s providence.
God also promises Hagar that her suffering will not go unnoticed. He assures her that her descendants will be multiplied and that she will bear a son named Ishmael, “because the Lord has heard your affliction” (Gen 16:10–11). Ishmael’s life is described as that of “a wild donkey of a man” (Gen 16:12), independent and free, yet marked by conflict. Over time, God’s promise is fulfilled: Ishmael’s descendants become a great nation (Gen 25:12–16).
This story echoes into the New Testament. Paul instructs Christian slaves to obey their earthly masters with sincerity of heart, not as people-pleasers, but “knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free” (Eph 6:5–8; Col 3:22–24; 1 Pet 2:18–19). The principle is similar to Hagar’s story: faithfulness under human authority does not justify abuse, but God sees every act of obedience and every suffering. Submission under authority is not moral approval of wrongdoing; it is trusting in God’s justice and providence.
The story of Hagar also confronts us with timeless truths. Slavery, oppression, and exploitation are never endorsed by God. Hagar’s suffering is real and profound, and God’s response shows us His care for the vulnerable. Her experience calls us to action: to see those who are suffering, to speak for the powerless, and to embody neighborly love. Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:39) echoes Hagar’s call to witness and care.
Hagar’s story reminds us that God sees the oppressed, hears their cries, and fulfills His promises in ways that human hands cannot undo. In the wilderness of sorrow and fear, God runs to meet those whom society ignores, calling them by name and promising a future.
Scriptures cited in this episode:
Hagar’s story is not only history; it is a mirror for our own call to justice, mercy, and faithful witness in the face of human sin. God sees, God hears, and God acts. May we follow His example in our lives today.
