Whenever we run into a problem one of our first reactions is to escape as a solution to our problem. In fact this can become a habit. Hagar was a person who used this approach for her problems. When the going got tough, she usually got going. Going in the other direction!
It's interesting to note here that the biggest problems Hagar faced were brought on by other peoples choices. Sarah chose her to have Abraham's child and Hagar probably had little to say in the matter. It isn't hard to understand how her pregnancy caused her to look down on Sarah since she was bearing Abraham's child and felt she was now part of the family above being a servant. But that attitude brought on hard feelings between her and Sarah, and Sarah eventually found a way to punish her. This punishment motivated Hagar to her first escape. But when she was instructed by God to return and give birth to Ishmael, Sarah's bitterness must have fueled the extreme bitterness between both of them.
Later when Isaac was finally born, Sarah looked for any excuse to have Hagar and Ishmael sent away. She found it when Ishmael was teasing Isaac. Again Hagar when out in the desert with her son Ishmael tried to escape and walked away from her son leaving him to fend for himself. Once again God intervened.
Have you ever noticed how patiently God operates to make our escape attempts fail? Escape is only a temporary solution to any problem. God's desire for us is to face our problems with His help. We experience His help most clearly in and through conflicts and difficulties, not away from them. Are there problems in your life that you are using the "Hagar solution" for? Ask God for His help and guidance and begin to face it today.
Do you allow God to guide you through your life? Do you know God? Do you know Jesus?
Are you certain that you are going to heaven? If the answer is no or your not really sure and there is something stirring inside you at this very moment to do this, then all you have to do is say a small prayer and you can be assured of your name being added to the Book of Life. Go to the prayer of salvation and pray the words out loud and believe in your heart and you will be saved.
Hagar's story is told in Genesis 16 - 21. She is also mentioned in Galatians 4:24.
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