Sarai and Hagar: Two Women in the Bible

Sarai’s womb was empty. God’s promise of a child seemed vacant to her, and so Sarai made a plan. She decided that Hagar would be a surrogate. She gave her maid to Abram for the purpose of conceiving a child.

And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. Genesis 16:2

Our modern world has created plan for surrogacy. Ukraine has been one of the top places for people to find a surrogate to carry their child. It is human nature to devise our own plans. We have science and technology (perhaps like the tower of Babel). What is the effect on the woman who is a surrogate?

Article 123, Part 2 of the Family Code of Ukraine expressly regulates children conceived through assisted reproductive technologies as a result of a Ukraine surrogacy program: If embryos created by assisted reproductive technology are transferred into the body of another woman, the contracting couple shall be the parents of the child.

Sarai’s plan created misery.

And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!” But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. Genesis 16:4-6

Then the story takes a surprising turn. An angel of the Lord came to Hagar and questioned Hagar. She answered truthfully and the angel instructed her to go back to Sarai and submit to her. The angel also gave her a promise.

And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Behold you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ismael because the Lord has listened to your affliction.” Genesis 16:11

Hagar responded with faith. So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Genesis 16:13

The story doesn’t end there. God’s promise of a son born to Abram and Sarai was fulfilled and Isaac was born. Hagar and Ismael were turned away to journey in the wilderness. God continued to care for Hagar and Ishmael. 

Hagar was in despair, her son was dehydrated and needing water. And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Genesis 21:17-18

What can we learn from Sarai and Hagar?

1. We cannot jump ahead of God with our own plan. We should seek him in prayer.
2. Hagar was obedient to the messages that the angel of the Lord gave her. We have the Bible now, with God’s instructions. We can obey his Word.
3. Hagar recognized the one true God.  She said, “you are a God of seeing.” God sees each one of us.
4. Even though Sarai jumped ahead of God’s plan, his plan was fulfilled exactly as he had promised. God is faithful to his promises. We can trust him.

Painting of Hagar in the Wilderness is by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot.

The prompt for the Five Minute Friday writing community is: VACANT

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