Topical Encyclopedia Hagar, also known as Agar in some biblical translations, is a significant figure in the Old Testament, primarily featured in the Book of Genesis. She is an Egyptian maidservant to Sarai (later Sarah), the wife of Abram (later Abraham). Hagar's account is intertwined with the patriarchal narratives and provides insight into themes of faith, promise, and divine intervention.Background and Role in Genesis Hagar first appears in Genesis 16. Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children, and in her desperation to provide an heir, she gave Hagar to Abram as a concubine. This act was culturally acceptable at the time, as it was a way to ensure lineage and inheritance. Genesis 16:2 states, "So Sarai said to Abram, 'Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.' And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai." Hagar conceived and, as a result, began to despise her mistress, Sarai. This led to tension and conflict between the two women. Sarai dealt harshly with Hagar, causing her to flee into the wilderness. It is in this moment of distress that Hagar encounters the Angel of the LORD, who provides her with comfort and guidance. Theophany and Promise The Angel of the LORD finds Hagar by a spring in the desert and instructs her to return to Sarai and submit to her authority. The angel also delivers a profound promise regarding her offspring. Genesis 16:10 records, "Then the Angel of the LORD said, 'I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.'" Hagar is told that she will bear a son, Ishmael, whose name means "God hears," reflecting the LORD's response to her affliction. Genesis 16:11 states, "The Angel of the LORD also said to her, 'You have conceived and will bear a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your affliction.'" Hagar and Ishmael's Departure Hagar's account continues in Genesis 21, where tensions arise once more after the birth of Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah. Sarah sees Ishmael mocking Isaac and demands that Abraham send Hagar and her son away. Reluctantly, Abraham complies after God reassures him that Ishmael will also become a great nation. Genesis 21:12-13 says, "But God said to Abraham, 'Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned. But I will also make a nation of the slave woman’s son, because he is your offspring.'" Hagar and Ishmael wander in the wilderness of Beersheba, where they face the threat of death due to lack of water. God hears the boy's cries and provides a well for them, reaffirming His promise to make Ishmael a great nation. Genesis 21:17-18 recounts, "God heard the voice of the boy, and the Angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, 'What is wrong, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he lies. Get up, lift up the boy, and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.'" Legacy and Significance Hagar's narrative is rich with theological and moral implications. Her account highlights God's compassion and faithfulness, even to those on the margins of society. Hagar, an Egyptian servant, becomes a recipient of divine promises, illustrating that God's purposes transcend human social structures and expectations. Her experiences underscore the themes of divine providence and the fulfillment of God's promises, as seen in the lives of both Ishmael and Isaac. Hagar's legacy is also significant in the broader Abrahamic traditions, as she is considered the matriarch of the Ishmaelites, traditionally viewed as the ancestors of many Arab peoples. Her account continues to be a point of reflection and discussion in theological studies, emphasizing God's attentive care and the unfolding of His redemptive plan through diverse and unexpected means. Nave's Topical Index Galatians 4:24,25Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which engenders to bondage, which is Agar. Nave's Topical Index Library Galatians Chapter iv. Homilies on Galatians and Ephesians. Resources What is the biblical significance of Beer Lahai Roi? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Sarah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Who were the Ishmaelites? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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