Hagar's Return

Hagar, an Egyptian maidservant to Sarai, wife of Abram, plays a significant role in the Genesis narrative. Her account is intricately tied to the covenant promises of God to Abram. After Sarai remained barren, she gave Hagar to Abram as a wife to bear a child on her behalf, a common practice in the ancient Near East. This decision led to tension and strife within the household. Upon conceiving, Hagar's attitude towards Sarai changed, resulting in Sarai treating her harshly. Consequently, Hagar fled into the wilderness.

In Genesis 16:7-10 , the Angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert and instructed her to return to Sarai and submit to her authority. The Angel promised, "I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count." This encounter is significant as it marks the first appearance of the Angel of the LORD in Scripture, a theophany that underscores God's personal involvement and care for individuals, even those outside the covenant community.

The Angel of the LORD further instructed Hagar to name her son Ishmael, meaning "God hears," for the LORD had heard her affliction (Genesis 16:11). This divine encounter not only provided Hagar with direction but also with a promise of blessing for her offspring, establishing Ishmael's future as a significant figure.

Ishmael's Birth

Upon Hagar's return, she bore Abram a son, and Abram named him Ishmael, as instructed by the Angel of the LORD. Ishmael's birth is recorded in Genesis 16:15-16 : "So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him."

Ishmael's birth represents a pivotal moment in the Abrahamic narrative. Although he was not the child of promise through whom the covenant would be established, Ishmael was still blessed by God. In Genesis 17:20 , God reassures Abram, "As for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will multiply him greatly. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation."

Ishmael's life and legacy are complex, as he becomes both a recipient of God's blessing and a figure whose descendants would have a tumultuous relationship with the descendants of Isaac, the child of promise. The narrative of Hagar and Ishmael highlights themes of God's sovereignty, His attentiveness to human suffering, and His ability to bring about His purposes through unexpected means.