"Out of the mouths of children and babies Thou hast ordained praise...." (Psalm 8:2)
Hagar's Story
a long-ago story of a mother in distress
Encouraging Mothers And Fathers To Choose Life For Their Unborn Babies
This is the story of a mother who lived a long time ago, a mother who found herself alone and scared,
and who thought that the only choice she had for her child was to let him die. Read her story, and be moved by the grace of a loving Heavenly Father who
gave her and her child hope and a future.
In the opening of our story, we see Hagar wandering out into the wilderness with some bread, a bottle of water, and her
son.
The man who had fathered her child
had sent her away, "and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba." 1 This was not just a lonely
wilderness; this was a desolate and dry place where
Hagar did not know any way to get more water. And so, desperate as she was already, she was soon faced with an even more
desperate predicament. "The water was spent in the bottle" 2, which is a poetic way of saying that she had no more water
for her or her child to drink.
What do you do in a situation like this? What was Hagar supposed to do? How was she
supposed to provide her child the life that she wanted to give to him?
She genuinely felt that she couldn't.... that there
was just no possible way.
And so "she cast the child under one of the shrubs" 3. This word "cast" literally means
"to throw,
cast, hurl, or fling". It sounds cruel and illogical. Why throw the child? Why not gently lay him down? This word
captures the desperation and utter hopelessness that Hagar felt. All alone, her life was in pieces. She saw no hope for
herself or for her child. She was not a cruel mother; she was just a heartbroken woman whose life seemed to have fallen
apart out of her control. She felt in the depths of her soul that life was not a possibility for her child, and she
despairingly gave up all hope, casting him down under a shrub.
"And she went, and sat her down a good way off, for she said, 'Let me not see the death of the child.' " 4 Hagar didn't
want to see her child die. She just thought that leaving him to die was the only choice that she had. And in terrible
aloneness and desolation of spirit, "she lifted up her voice and wept." 5
It is here that our story takes a beautiful turn. It is here that an angel called from heaven, and said to this distressed
mother,
"What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not. For the Almighty hath heard the voice of the lad, where he is. Arise, lift
up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation." 6 These must have been the most beautiful
words that Hagar had ever heard in her life. Fear not.... The Almighty has heard your child's voice....
There is a promising future for your child.
Hagar had been so sure that there was no possible way of her providing life for her child, but now a miraculous thing was
opened up before her eyes.
"The Almighty opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went, and filled the bottle
with water, and gave the lad a drink." 7
Now there was hope where there had once been despair. Now there was comfort
where there had once been heartbreak. Now there was life where there had once been near-death. "And the Almighty was with
the lad, and he grew." 8
Are you finding yourself alone? Do you feel broken and scared? Do you feel like you will be unable to provide the baby in
your womb with the life that you want to be able to give him? Do you feel sent away and desperate and desolate? Listen,
dear mama. Close your eyes and listen to the love of the Heavenly Father who tenderly cares for the child you are
carrying. The one who sent an angel to speak words of hope to Hagar in her distress is right now sending the same message
of hope to you:
"Fear not. Don't be scared. I am with you. I hear the voice of your baby. I will provide for your
little one. Arise, be strong, and carry your child. I will carry you. I have made you, and I will lift you; I will
even carry you, and will
deliver you, and will give you strength to deliver your baby. I have a future and a hope for you and your baby. I will be
with you and your child. For I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future. This is My word for you and for the little one in your womb." 9
Please CLICK HERE to request a personalized written blessing for your precious unborn baby.
1 Genesis 21:14
2 Genesis 21:15
3 Genesis 21:15
4 Genesis 21:16
5 Genesis 21:16
6 Genesis 21:17-18
7 Genesis 21:19
8 Genesis 21:20
9 Genesis 21:17-18; Isaiah 46:4; Jeremiah 29:11