By: A Bess
“And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him and lift up her voice, and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.” (Genesis 21:16- 17)
Hagar makes her way with Ishmael in the wilderness – alone, without family or friend. She had lost everything. She lacked the means to sustain herself and her child. There was no place to sleep, and the grim reality of the wilderness begins to confront her senses, leaving her in despair. She is tired, weary, and hungry, for the little bread and water she got from Abraham were used up.
Despair begins to overtake Hagar. She has to make a decision, with no help; and in this barren wilderness, she begins to prepare herself to face death. Her mind is in turmoil; she becomes emotional – anger, pain, hurt, and animosity envelop her mind as she considers the graveness of her and her son’s situation. There is nowhere to go but into the wilderness; all hope is gone. Hagar does the unthinkable – she places Ishmael across the path, some forty yards away. Her suffering is unbearable; and not wanting to see the death of her son, she turns her face away and weeps with uncontrollable agony in her heart.
A voice calls out to Hagar – at the very moment when her soul is in the depths of despair, and living feels like pure agony. “Hagar,” the voice calls from above, and with endearing compassion asks, “What aileth thee Hagar?” And with a promise of assurance from the One who is, the One who sees, Hagar is reminded to fear not, for He has seen and heard the voice of the boy.
This same assurance is given to us today – that God sees and hears our voice in the midst of our trials, turmoil, anguish, pain, hopelessness, sorrow, despair, and grief. He says to us, “Fear not, for I am with you.” God will refresh and sustain us daily, and we will be able to face each day with renewed vigour and hope.
