Can You See

HAGAR?

Sarai’s ServantGenesis 16:1-6• v. 1, Sarai is rich, free and barren. Hagar

is single, poor, and bonded.• v. 2-3, Hagar becomes a means to an

end. “Perhaps I will be built up in her.”• v. 4, Instead of being built up, Hagar

“looked with contempt on her mistress.”• v. 5-6, Sarai blames others for the

consequence of her choice. “Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.”

Hagar Is HeardGenesis 16:7-13• v. 7, First time in the Bible that an angel

appears to a human.• v. 8a, First time anyone in the story speaks

to Hagar, and she is even called by name!• v. 8b, First time that Hagar speaks in the

story. She knows where she is from, not where she is going.

• v. 9-12, Though commanded to return, Hagar’s pregnancy is blessed.

• The name “Ishmael” means “God hears.”

Hagar Is Seen• v. 13, Hagar is the first person in the

Bible to “name” the Lord. She calls Him “The God Who Sees Me.”

• God is the only one in this story who dignifies Hagar as a human being made in His image.

• “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”

The Second Exile• Genesis 21:8-21• After Isaac is born, the animosity of

Sarah is broadened to include Ismael.• v. 10, “Cast out this slave woman

with her son”• v. 11-13, Despite Abraham’s

displeasure, God tells him to consent to Sarah. God will watch over Hagar and Ishmael.

• v. 14, Once again, Hagar finds herself exiled and dismissed.

The Second Exile• v. 15-16, After the water runs out,

Hagar weeps for her son.• v. 17, God hears her cries.• v. 18, God renews His promise.• v. 19, God “opens her eyes.”• v. 20, “And God was with the boy, and

he grew up.”• God does not see merely “Sarai’s

slave.”• God sees Hagar, and He cares for her.

If He Were a Prophet …Luke 7:36-39 • v. 36, Jesus set down to eat in the home

of a Pharisee.• v. 37-38, A woman who was a “sinner”

anoints the feet of Jesus and “wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.”

• v. 39, The Pharisees overlook the extravagant act of love and see only Jesus coming into contact with a person who is a “sinner.”

• v. 40-43, A short parable …

Do You See This Woman?Luke 7:44-50

• v. 44a, “Do you see this woman?”• When Sarai looked at Hagar, she saw a

slave.• When the Pharisee looked at this

woman, he saw a sinner.• Jesus asks, “Do you see this woman?”• Are we able to see and appreciate the

lost, the needy, the downtrodden, and those considered to be the “least among us”?

Do You See This Woman?• v. 44b-46, This woman who many

despised showed great love to Jesus where others had been merely “polite.”

• v. 47, Jesus sees her plight, her sin, and her love. He offers forgiveness to this woman though many could not even see her.

• v. 48, Jesus addresses her directly. He treats her as a person. He sees her.

• v. 49-50, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

• He is the God who sees.