Hagar is an important biblical figure who appears in the Book of Genesis. She was an Egyptian servant of Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Here is an overview of the key events involving Hagar in the Bible:
Hagar becomes Sarah’s servant
Genesis 16 provides the background on how Hagar came to be part of Abraham and Sarah’s household. When Abraham and Sarah were without children, Sarah gave her Egyptian servant Hagar to Abraham in order to bear him a child. This was culturally acceptable at the time based on customs regarding surrogate mothers. Hagar conceives a son Ishmael through Abraham (Genesis 16:3-4).
Sarah mistreats Hagar
After Hagar conceives Ishmael, tension grows between her and Sarah. Sarah complains to Abraham about Hagar’s contemptuous attitude (Genesis 16:4-5). In response, Abraham tells Sarah to deal with Hagar as she sees fit. Sarah then mistreats Hagar, prompting her to flee into the wilderness (Genesis 16:6).
The angel of the Lord meets Hagar
As Hagar flees into the wilderness, the angel of the Lord finds her by a spring of water and asks her to return to Sarah and submit to her authority. The angel also tells Hagar she will greatly multiply her offspring. She is told to name her son Ishmael, meaning “God hears”, relating to how God heard of her affliction (Genesis 16:7-14).
Hagar gives birth to Ishmael
Hagar returns and gives birth to Abraham’s son Ishmael when Abraham was eighty-six years old (Genesis 16:15-16). Ishmael would become a great nation himself in fulfillment of God’s promise.
Sarah gives birth to Isaac
In Genesis 21, the story fast-forwards to Isaac’s birth when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah ninety. Isaac was the child promised to Abraham and Sarah for many years. On the day of Isaac’s weaning celebration, Sarah witnesses Ishmael “laughing” or “mocking” and demands that Hagar and Ishmael be cast out (Genesis 21:8-10). This greatly distressed Abraham, but God reassures him that Isaac is the promised heir and that Ishmael will also become a nation.
Hagar and Ishmael sent away
Early the next morning Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away with provisions. Hagar wanders in the wilderness of Beersheba unable to find water and prepares to die with Ishmael under a bush. But God hears Ishmael’s voice and provides a well of water for them (Genesis 21:14-19). God remained with Ishmael as he grew up in the wilderness of Paran.
Abraham makes Isaac his heir
Genesis 25 describes Abraham leaving his inheritance to Isaac, his son by Sarah, after taking another wife named Keturah who bore him six sons. Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines, presumably including Hagar, and sends them away while he was still living. The inheritance is passed on exclusively to Isaac. Ishmael and Isaac come together to bury Abraham after he dies at the age of 175 (Genesis 25:1-10).
So in summary, Hagar plays an important role as the mother of Ishmael, Abraham’s firstborn son. Though Sarah was resentful and jealous, God protected Hagar and made Ishmael a great nation too, ultimately looking out for them both. Hagar’s story illustrates God’s faithfulness and care in difficult relational circumstances.
Key facts about Hagar
- She was an Egyptian servant of Sarah, originally given to her as a gift (Genesis 16:1)
- Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to bear a child when she was unable to (Genesis 16:2)
- Hagar conceives a son named Ishmael through Abraham (Genesis 16:15)
- Sarah mistreated Hagar out of jealousy, prompting her to flee (Genesis 16:6)
- An angel met Hagar in the wilderness and told her to return (Genesis 16:9)
- Ishmael is born when Abraham was 86 (Genesis 16:16)
- Sarah later gives birth to Isaac, the promised son (Genesis 21:2-3)
- Sarah demanded Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away (Genesis 21:10)
- God heard Ishmael’s cries and provided water in the wilderness (Genesis 21:17-19)
- Abraham left his inheritance through Isaac, but cared for Ishmael too (Genesis 25:5-6)
Hagar’s character and legacy
Though Hagar occupies a small role in Genesis, her character offers some important insights:
- As an Egyptian servant, she was likely a person of lower status used to carry out her mistress’s wishes
- She had limited power or choice when Sarah gave her to conceive a child with Abraham
- When Hagar conceived, she looked down on Sarah, creating jealousy and friction
- Hagar appears patient and loyal, returning to Sarah and Abraham after fleeing
- God watches over Hagar and Ishmael, showing care for the powerless
- Her story shows that God can fulfill promises in unexpected ways
- Paul later uses Hagar as a symbol of the covenant given at Mount Sinai i.e. the law (Galatians 4:24-25)
- She is considered an ancestor and mother figure in both Jewish and Islamic tradition
Overall, Hagar models a woman who endured difficult circumstances while trusting in God’s care and provision. Her legacy lived on powerfully through her son Ishmael, who became a great nation.
Ishmael’s role and importance
As Hagar’s son, Ishmael occupies an important place in the Genesis narrative:
- He was Abraham’s firstborn son, yet not the child of the covenant promise
- His conception and birth represent Abraham and Sarah’s attempt to fulfill God’s promise on their own terms
- He was blessed to become a great nation, with 12 rulers over his people (Genesis 17:20)
- God heard him crying in the wilderness and rescued Ishmael and Hagar (Genesis 21:17-18)
- His descendants are referenced throughout Scripture (e.g. Psalm 83:6)
- He is considered the father of Arab peoples, including Muhammad tracing ancestry to him
- Along with Isaac, Ishmael buried Abraham as one of his sons (Genesis 25:9)
- Paul contrasts Hagar’s child Ishmael with Sarah’s child Isaac of promise (Galatians 4:21-23)
Ishmael and Isaac together become the foundations of God’s promise to make Abraham a father of many nations. Though Isaac was the son of the promise, God honored His blessing on Ishmael as well.
Lessons and theological insights
The story of Hagar and Ishmael provides important biblical-theological insights:
- God cares for the vulnerable and powerless – He protected Hagar and Ishmael when marginalized
- God often works His plan through unexpected means – Ishmael’s birth was not God’s original plan but still blessed
- God provides when we face desperate circumstances – God heard Ishmael and provided water in the wilderness
- God blesses even when not part of His central covenant – Ishmael became a nation though not God’s chosen heir
- God is able to fulfill His promises despite human mistakes – Isaac’s miraculous birth still occurred after Ishmael’s conception
- God cares for all people – Both sons Isaac and Ishmael received blessings and inheritance
Most importantly, Hagar and Ishmael remind us that every life matters to God. He remembers the often forgotten and works good plans for all His children.
Hagar in other biblical passages
Beyond Genesis, Hagar is mentioned in a few other Scripture passages:
- Galatians 4:21-31 – Paul allegorically uses Hagar as a symbol of the law given at Mount Sinai, contrasting her slavery with the free children of promise, similar to Isaac.
- 1 Chronicles 1:28 – Ishmael included in genealogies as the firstborn son of Abraham.
- 1 Chronicles 1:32
- Psalm 83:6 – Reference to Ishmael’s descendants as enemies allied against Israel.
Hagar in Jewish and Islamic tradition
In Jewish tradition, Hagar is known as Hajar and viewed positively for her loyalty and key role giving birth to Abraham’s son Ishmael. She is seen as one of the matriarchs and a revered woman. Her crying out in the wilderness is associated with prayers for deliverance.
In Islam, Hagar is highly revered as one of the most important women in Islamic history. She is an honoured woman given the best news of bearing Abraham’s son Ishmael. Muslims believe Hagar and Ishmael later settled in Mecca and built the Kaaba, making it a sacred place of pilgrimage.
So in both Jewish and Islamic tradition, Hagar is viewed as a vital matriarch and mother of a key descendant nation through Ishmael. Her suffering and crying out connected profoundly with key places and concepts.
Key bible passages about Hagar
Here are some of the most revealing bible verses about Hagar’s role and story:
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 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 16:1-2)
So after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. (Genesis 16:3-4a)
The angel of the Lord said to her, “…I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 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.” (Genesis 16:10,11b)
And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (Genesis 16:15-16)
So she fled from her and left her servant behind, wandering aimlessly and lost in the wilderness of Beersheba. (Genesis 21:14)
God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “…Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. (Genesis 21:17, 18b, 19)
These key passages reveal Hagar’s difficult circumstances, God’s faithfulness to her, and the importance of her son Ishmael in God’s covenant plan despite Isaac being the chosen heir.
Conclusion
In summary, Hagar plays a small but pivotal role in Genesis as an Egyptian servant girl who miraculously bore Abraham’s first son Ishmael. Though she endured mistreatment and banishment, God protected her and blessed Ishmael also as a great nation. Her story is one of God’s providence for the vulnerable and His ability to work His will despite human error. Hagar occupies an honored place in both Jewish and Islamic tradition as the mother of their revered ancestor Ishmael.