“And he (the Angel of the Lord) said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go?” (Genesis 16:8)
Hagar had been given to Abram to be his second wife. Sarai, Abram’s wife, was barren of children. God had promised Abram in (Genesis 15:4) that Abram’s heir would “come forth out of thine own bowels” and not from his nephew Lot. And yet Sarai was barren and well past the age that women bear children. Sarai and Abram took things into their own hands in order that Abram might have a natural heir. Therefore, Sarai gave her Egyptian handmaid to Abram to be his wife. Abram went into Hagar and she conceived. When Hagar saw this, she then despised Sarai. Sarai realized her mistake in giving Hagar to Abram. Abram gave Sarai the authority to do as she pleased with Hagar. Sarai dealt “harshly with her” and she (Hagar) “fled from her face” (Genesis 16:6).
God found Hagar by “a fountain of water in the wilderness” and God asked Hagar, “Whence camest thou?” Hagar, where did you come from? What are you doing here? And “Whither wilt thou go?” Hagar, where are you going? What is you destination? Have you considered where you are headed? Have you asked Me about leaving your position as Abram’s wife? Have you considered My Plan for you and your child that is in your womb?
Many times there comes severe resistance where we are. Our first response is to run from it and not even know where we are headed; never asking God what His Will is. This is where Hagar was. This may be where you are now.
Thank God His Eye of Mercy neither slumbers nor sleeps. Thank God for His Grace. Thank God that His Design and Purpose for our life will be carried out in our life. When we go off on our own and consciously or unconsciously try to give up, even destroy our life – God is ever watching.
Notice God’s plan for Hagar’s life, (verse 7), “And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness.” This is pure grace from God to Hagar. We also see “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” in (Genesis 6:8). The definition of grace is given in the examples of Noah and of Hagar. Grace flows from God to man, not man to God.
When God comes to you, He has all the Supply to meet your needs. Yes, He finds you in the wilderness of sin and rebellion and there He provides a Fountain of His Word, of Living Water, as He did in (John 4:1), to the woman at the well. When God finds you, His questions to you are to bring about revelation of who you are, where you are, and that He is your Need Filler. He is the Water of Life and His Way is the Way of Life and Blessing. So, Hagar, from whence did you come and where do you go from here? You only have two choices, the way of defeat and destruction, or the Way of God and Life.
The Angel of the Lord went to Hagar in the wilderness: the place we find ourselves when we go out on our own. The Angel of the Lord not only found her; He questioned her; He commanded her what to do; He told her He was going to bless her and the end result was (verse 13) she confessed, “Thou God seest me.” You have found me in my rebellion; I confess I don’t know where I go from here. God there is nowhere to go from here. Therefore, “for she said, Have I also here looked after him (I heard, I submit, I will return; I will depend upon you; I have messed up) that seeth me?”
God is asking you today if you have lost your way, from “whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go?” What is your answer? Hagar had an answer, “I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.” But it was the wrong answer. It was the answer of the flesh; an answer of fear, defeat and death. Your answer should be “God seest me.” Therefore I will look after You, I will do as You say, and then I can answer Your question: I am going Your way, I will return and submit and follow You and receive Your Blessings, even in the Valley of Baca (or tears).
Leave a Reply