Hagar and the God Who Sees

After ten years in Canaan, Sarai still has no child. She gives Abram her Egyptian servant, Hagar, so that she can have a family through her. Hagar becomes pregnant, and immediately looks down on her mistress. Sarai complains to Abram, who lets her do as she pleases. Mistreated, Hagar runs away. By a spring in the wilderness, on the road to Shur, the angel of the LORD finds her: “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go?” He tells her to go back to her mistress and submit to her, but promises her countless descendants. Her son will be named Ishmael, “because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.” Hagar gives the LORD a name, El Roi, “Thou God seest me”: “Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?” The well will be called Beer-lahai-roi. Hagar bears Ishmael to Abram, who is eighty-six years old.