The Bible is a wonderful book that teaches us about God. It also shows us how God interacted with people here on earth. We are God’s creation, we are made in His image, God created us and loves us.
Hagar needed help
Many people in the Bible called upon God in their time of need. We are all needy people and at one time or another we need to call upon God in prayer and ask Him for help. Hagar, the mother of Ismael (the father of the Arabs) was one such person who really needed God.
Hagar was in a lot of trouble because she hated Abraham’s wife Sarah. And Hagar had a child Ishmael with Abraham but Sarah did not. Hagar was Sarah’s maidservant. But one day God fulfilled His promise to Abraham and his wife Sarah bore him a son and they named him Isaac.
Ishmael hated Isaac from the day he was born.
“When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion. But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac. So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!” – Genesis 21:8-10
Abraham sent Hagar away so that Ishmael couldn’t persecute Isaac anymore. And Hagar and Ishmael ran into difficulties because there was no water in the place that they went to.
“But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”
Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.
And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer, and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.” – Genesis 21:17-21
God heard and answered
There are several things that happen here that we might not notice right away. First of all it says that God heard the boy crying. God heard Ishmael crying because there was not water and God had pity and took compassion on the boy and his mother.
Also it says that God opened Hagar’s eyes so that she could see there was a well full of water for them to drink from. So Hagar filled her water.
It is amazing that God heard the prayers of Hagar and her son Ishmael and He answered in such an amazing and timely way – God answered them right away.
God is not a million miles away
God is right here with us. The Bible says “God is an everpresent help in times of trouble.” He is right here right now to help us with the answers that we need. God cares about us and all of our needs. He is a loving God who cares.