Dear God,
Do you care about me?
(Genesis 16:1-16; 21:8-21)
In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.
— Psalms 31:22
The Story of HAGAR
Hagar the Egyptian was a slave to Sarah (then called Sarai). She was a nobody. Since Sarah was childless, she gave Hagar to Abraham (then called Abram) to be her proxy, as was the customs of their time.
Although a slave, Hagar had the privilege of hearing from the angel of the LORD, twice. The first time was when the pregnant Hagar ran away from Sarai. An angel of the LORD found her, comforted her, and sent her back with a promise. The angel named her son Ishmael. Ishmael was born when Abram was 86 years old.
When Abraham was 100 years old, God gave to Abraham and Sarah the promised son named Isaac. This time, Hagar and Ishmael were sent away. While in the Desert of Beersheba, Hagar and Ishmael ran out of water. In their distress, the angel of the LORD called out to Hagar and sent her comfort and the much needed water. As God promised, Ishmael’s descendants became numerous. They became the Arab people.
Discussion Questions
If you were the pregnant Hagar, what do you think would be your greatest want?
When pregnant Hagar ran away from her mistress with nowhere to go, the Lord’s angel found her in the desert (Gen 16 : 7-8). Hagar then said of God, “You are the God who sees me” (Gen 16 : 13). Recall a time when you needed to be seen by someone. Why was it important to you that you were noticed?
The name Ishmael means “God hears.” When Hagar thought that Ishmael was about to die of thirst, God heard their cries and delivered them from distress (Gen 21 : 17). Recall a time when you felt heard. What made that moment so important?
While Sarah and Abraham thought little of Hagar, God came to her in her aid. Ishmael’s birth was the result of Sarah and Abraham’s impatience with God, yet God made Ishmael into a great nation. What does that say about God’s character?
What questions do you have about God’s care for you? Take some time to start a letter to God and ask him about it. “Dear God…”
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love…
— Psalms 33:18
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.
— Matthew 10:29
Prayer Journalling:
Writing a “Dear God” Letter
This week, begin a letter to God, writing about the question:
“God, do you care about me?”
Journal about times you feel God showed his care for you.
Journal about your deepest questions about God’s care for you. Pour out your complaints if needed - God can handle it … and God hears!