God Hears Your Pain — Genesis 16 Daily Word

Explore how God offers comfort and guidance during suffering through Hagar’s story in Genesis 16. Discover God’s faithfulness when life feels overwhelming and uncertain.

Genesis 16:7-11 Daily Word

1. [Scripture]

[7] The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. [8] And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” [9] The angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” [10] The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” [11] And the angel of the LORD said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction. (Gen 16:7-11, ESV)

2. [Daily Word]

# Hagar had conceived a child by Abram.

Hagar mistakenly saw this as an opportunity for social advancement, and so she began to despise her mistress Sarai, who was unable to conceive. This caused Sarai to feel a deep threat to her own position. In truth, Sarai’s place had been established by God and was entirely unrelated to Hagar’s pregnancy — there was no reason for her to feel insecure. Yet Sarai, who lived only with her eyes fixed on the present, experienced this situation as though everything she had was being taken from her. She therefore sought to have Abram clearly affirm her standing, and demanded that God render a definitive judgment.

# Abram makes it clear that Hagar was Sarai’s servant from the very beginning.

Abram believed that the kingdom of God would be established according to God’s will. It was with that purpose in mind — to play a part in building God’s kingdom — that he had slept with Hagar and allowed her to conceive. However, because Hagar’s ambition extended to coveting even Sarai’s position, Abram moved to restore order by returning Hagar to her original status as a servant. From that point on, Sarai began to treat Hagar harshly — both as her servant and as her mistress over her. The mistreatment became so severe that Hagar could no longer endure it, and she fled from Abram’s household.

In the end, Hagar and her child left on their own the very nation God was building. This reminds us that when we choose not to live according to God’s will, human error inevitably follows. Let us therefore remember that it is only when we live according to God’s will that we find true peace under the Lord’s guidance.

# Hagar sits alone beside a spring in the wilderness on the way to Shur.

It is here that Hagar encounters the angel of the LORD. In this passage, the angel of the LORD speaks as though he himself is God — in other words, the angel of the LORD who appears here is God coming in human form. He asks Hagar: “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She replies, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” Hagar is attempting to resolve her real-life problem by running away from it.

Then God said, “Return to your mistress and submit yourself under her authority.” This means going back to her original place as a servant and taking up her own cross. And from that place, she was to call upon God. For [13] No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Cor 10:13, ESV) Furthermore, she received the blessing of descendants, as God declared that He would greatly multiply her offspring so that they would be too numerous to count.

This shows that God intended for Abram to be a “blessing,” and for his offspring likewise to be a “blessing.” Yet in this passage, there is an even more significant reason, found in verse 11, embedded in the very name of her son Ishmael. It means “The LORD has heard Hagar’s affliction.” God heard the cry of Hagar’s prayer in the midst of her suffering.

# God will surely hear the prayer of those who cry out to Him in the midst of their suffering.

We must remember, in particular, that He does not abandon the repentant sinner but answers their voice. We must also remember that the affairs of Abram, the affairs of Sarai, and the affairs of Hagar were all written into the work of God’s history.

Remember that when we are broken before God, we are fully used by Him. May we all live according to God’s will today and be used as instruments in His hands.

Hagar’s flight, the angel of the LORD, comfort in suffering, awareness of one’s calling, the mercy of God

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com