Prayer Requests

Hagar, a servant girl which Abraham and Sarah had evidently picked up when they were in Egypt; has been chosen by them both to become the mother of the heir for the promises of God.  This was by no means by God’s direction, but by a serious lack of trust in God’s promise.  This has now brought even more conflict within the family.

The following verses are the words of Hagar’s prayer, and our LORD’s answer; actually the LORD’s appearance and speaking to her first:

“7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. 9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. 10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. 11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. 12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. 13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?”  Genesis 16:7-13 (KJV)

“Angel of the LORD” is most likely a pre-incarnate manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the second person of the Triune God.  Any word He speaks would be the words of God.

In this revelation to Hagar His first words to her is to return to Sarai, and submit to her.  He gives her promise of continued blessing in the family of Ishmael the son she  will bear.

We learn from this prayer that the LORD heard the prayer of Hagar, her affliction; and she is awed by the fact the LORD has chosen to reveal Himself to her.  Every time you and I pray we should be awed by the fact that God has chosen to reveal Himself to us, speak to us, and give us the privilege and right by new birth (John 1:12) of speaking to Him.

We may not see Him in a physical form as did Hagar, but one day we will see Him face to face, and we will be looking into the face of Jesus.

-Tim A. Blankenship