Hagar was an Egyptian maidservant, the property of Abraham and Sarah. When Sarah requested that Hagar sleep with her husband, Abraham, in order to create an heir, we assume that put Hagar in a fairly awkward situation. But actually, in the ancient Middle Eastern culture of that day, it would have been predictable, especially since 75-year-old Sarah was childless.

We also imagine that once Hagar was pregnant, everyone was pleased, but young Hagar began to despise her mistress. And Sarah paid the price for intervening in God’s plan and using a surrogate mother. She was angry with Abraham and possibly humiliated by Hagar’s pride. Sarah’s frustration led her to treat her maidservant so harshly that Hagar ran away.

Hagar fled into the wilderness, pregnant and without a plan. That’s when God stepped in. The angel of the LORD met her and spoke practical guidance, a word of prophecy, and comforting encouragement.

Hagar was reassured that God heard her cries and “She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me’” (Genesis 16:13).

And God sees us . . . wherever we are, whatever trouble we have gotten ourselves into, whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, whether as result of our own doing or not. God is aware of every unfair situation, every injustice, every unkind act, and every wrong done to us. God sees.

May we go forward in faith, trusting God sees all.