HEARING A MOTHER’S HEART

God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” —Genesis 21:17, 18

Despite the angel’s reassurance during her pregnancy, the glimpse we are given of Hagar’s experience of motherhood is troubled.

Tension in Abraham’s household led to him sending Hagar and Ishmael away from the safety and support of the community. Again, Hagar was alone in the desert, but this time with the added responsibility and heartbreak of seeing her child’s suffering and anticipating that Ishmael would soon die. But “God heard the boy crying,” and this time, God Himself spoke directly to Hagar. On this occasion, God demonstrated that He is the “God who sees.” He saw and heard Ishmael’s suffering. But He also saw the fear and suffering of the boy’s mother. God might have seemed harsh in instructing Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away (see Genesis 21:12), but God was responding to the distress in that household and had a bigger plan in mind. And we can hear the tenderness in His voice as He spoke to Hagar, and gave her an insight into His care for Ishmael and clear sight to see the well that was nearby (see verse 19).

We know little more of the story of this mother and son, but just as God was with Hagar in the times of her greatest distress, “God was with the boy as he grew up” (verse 20). It is likely that one of the ways in which Ishmael would have recognized God’s presence would have been through his mother retelling the stories of her experiences with the God who sees and hears even the cries and fears of those who might be considered outsiders to the story and people of God.