Hagar

Hagar is a significant figure in the biblical narrative, primarily found in the Book of Genesis. She was an Egyptian maidservant to Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Hagar's account is intertwined with the covenantal promises God made to Abraham and the unfolding of God's plan for His chosen people.

Hagar first appears in Genesis 16. Sarah, who was then called Sarai, had borne no children to Abraham and, in her desperation, gave Hagar to Abraham as a concubine to bear a child on her behalf. This decision was culturally acceptable at the time but led to significant familial strife. Hagar conceived and, as a result, began to despise her mistress, Sarai. In response, Sarai treated Hagar harshly, causing her to flee into the wilderness.

In the wilderness, the Angel of the LORD appeared to Hagar by a spring of water, instructing her to return to Sarai and submit to her authority. The Angel also delivered a promise that Hagar's descendants would be too numerous to count, and she was to name her son Ishmael, meaning "God hears," because the LORD had heard her affliction (Genesis 16:10-11). Hagar obeyed and returned, giving birth to Ishmael, who would become the ancestor of many Arab nations.

Hagar's account continues in Genesis 21, after the birth of Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah. Tensions arose once more, leading Sarah to demand that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away. God instructed Abraham to heed Sarah's request, reassuring him that Ishmael would also become a great nation because he was Abraham's offspring (Genesis 21:12-13). Hagar and Ishmael wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba, where God again intervened, providing water and reiterating His promise concerning Ishmael's future.

Sarah

Sarah, originally named Sarai, is a central matriarchal figure in the Bible, known for her role as the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. Her life and experiences are pivotal in the narrative of God's covenant with Abraham and the establishment of the Israelite nation.

Sarah's account begins in Genesis 11, where she is introduced as the wife of Abram (later Abraham). Despite her beauty, Sarah was barren, a condition that weighed heavily on her and influenced her decisions. In Genesis 12, she accompanied Abraham to Egypt during a famine, where her beauty caught the attention of Pharaoh. To protect himself, Abraham claimed Sarah was his sister, leading to her temporary placement in Pharaoh's household. God intervened, afflicting Pharaoh's house with plagues, prompting Pharaoh to release Sarah and send the couple away.

The promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah is a recurring theme in their narrative. In Genesis 17, God changed Sarai's name to Sarah, meaning "princess," and promised that she would bear a son, Isaac, through whom God's covenant would be established (Genesis 17:15-16). Despite her initial laughter and doubt due to her advanced age, Sarah conceived and bore Isaac, fulfilling God's promise (Genesis 21:1-3).

Sarah's relationship with Hagar is marked by tension and conflict, particularly after Hagar conceived Ishmael. Sarah's insistence on Hagar's expulsion reflects her protective instincts for Isaac, the child of promise. Her actions, while harsh, align with the unfolding of God's plan for Isaac to be the heir through whom the covenant would continue.

Sarah lived to be 127 years old, and her death is recorded in Genesis 23. She is honored as a matriarch of faith, and her burial in the cave of Machpelah marks the first recorded purchase of land in the Promised Land by Abraham, signifying the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promises to his descendants.