Saved By the Well

So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.  When the water in the skin was used up, she left the boy under one of the bushes.  Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, "Do not let me see the boy die." And she sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice and wept.  God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.  Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him."  Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink.  God was with the lad, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness and became an archer. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt. (Genesis 21:14-21 NASB)

This is one of the saddest most pathetic stories in Scripture.  Hagar leaves the household of Abraham, again.  Only now she hasn't done anything wrong.  God told her to go back and submit, and she did.  Now here she is again, but innocent.  This time her son is with her (he who shall be nameless).  Abraham gives them bread and water and sends them off on a donkey.  Even before the water runs out, the donkey disappears (oh sure they'll take the donkey back!).  But the water does run out.

When the water is gone, Hagar throws the boy under a bush, and goes a distance away because she doesn't want to see her son (the boy) die.  It's gut wrenching, dramatic, you almost weep with her it's so sad.  She cries out in mourning.  Oddly, it seems "the boy" is crying as well, only he's crying out to God; and it works (go figure).  God calls long distance from heaven and in His customary gentle, soothing tone, says, "What's the matter with you!"  I love that.  And before you begin to get all huffy with God, go back and read chapter 16, especially verses 7 through 12. 

God called Hagar on her faith.  She should have had confidence in God, that He would fulfill His promises to her and "the boy".  She had been promised that her son would be the father of a great nation, much like Isaac, only her son would be a "wild donkey man" (okay, so it wasn't all good news).  God had promised Hagar, then Abraham, then Abraham again, and now Hagar again.  But it's not the promise of God for the future that saves them.  It's not such words that she's encouraged to go on and make it some how.  The human spirit was not going to persevere beyond the need for water, not this time.  God provided their need for water, not just promises of a future.

The reality of their need didn't change because God promised a future.  In order to fulfill His promise of a future, God also provided for the present need.  This is where I need to camp out for a while.  There are a lot of promises of God in Scripture, many that can be claimed by modern believers (and many that can't).  I can go on and on about the uncomfortable promises of punishment that apply as well, but that's not where I see the point here.  One prominent promise of God is that followers of the King of Kings will one day stand in His presence before His throne and worship.  That's a promise which requires some present support.

For me to believe and accept that I will one day stand in His presence and worship Him, I have to believe in a lot of other stuff as well.  I also have some needs in the present that have to be met some how.  I have to believe in Jesus, that He existed, exists, and has provided for the restoration and preservation of my relationship with my Maker and Master.  That's not an option, I have to believe that.  I also have to believe that my Master loves me (which is why Jesus accomplished all that stuff).  That's warm and fuzzy, and I like that part.  But I also have to believe that my Master has my back, that He is my protection.  But this is a deceptive belief that requires understanding and acceptance of another belief (it's sort of like a line of dominoes).

I have come to accept that my Master is concerned about my life here and the details of it only to the extent that He can use my life and those details for His kingdom.  When He promises to preserve my life eternally, He understands life to mean my relationship with Him, and in no other way.  That is what I am promised will never end, not my physical existence here.  Here I may find difficulties, pain, sadness, and injustice.  He never promised me that I wouldn't.

But because of this promise of an eternal relationship with Him, I have some present needs He also attends to.  He takes care of a "bully" that threatens to take me out.  Seriously, the adversary and enemy of all humanity can only taunt me through a fence.  Sure it's a chain-link fence and it seems awfully close, but it's also tall, topped with serious razor wire, and guarded by the armies of Heaven.  My part is not to listen to the taunts (which I have difficulty with).  But I live, breathe, and walk through my life behind this impenetrable fence.  My relationship with my Master is a life where I walk about in His presence and only the taunts of my enemy can reach my ears, and only then when I listen for them.

Sure, this world in which I experience my life with my Master is hard, but that life with Him is protected by Him.  I can engage in all things in this world with the confidence that the fence is secure.  He could splash me with gas, toss a match, and still, my life would be safe with my Master (I may be much darker, but my life with my Master would be in tact).  When my Master has my back, the important, eternal things are secure.  The events of this world are merely taunts of a imprisoned defeated enemy.  I just have to turn that male skill of "selective listening" to my advantage and focus on my Master.  Which also means I probably should give up control of the various TV remotes.  Dang, I hate that.

Rejection and Ejection as a Pathway to Righteousness

Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.  Therefore she said to Abraham, "Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac."  The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son.  But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named.  "And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant."  So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba. (Genesis 21:9-14 NASB)

This is an account where what's really going on is implied rather than explicit.  First off, for whatever reason, Ishmael is never named but referred to obliquely throughout the chapter.  Second, he wasn't mocking, he was laughing with the boy named for such behavior.  I see clues that there are two other reasons for sending Hagar and Ishmael away.

The first is from what Sarah says to Abraham, "...the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac."  It's not that they "play" together, it's that Ishmael threatens Isaac's inheritance, or blessing, from Abraham.  It is more jealousy than physical or emotional protection of Isaac.  But why be jealous?  Hasn't God made it clear that Isaac will be the one through whom the promise and covenant will pass?  Time for the second clue.

The second clue I find in what God says to Abraham.  Abraham doesn't want to send Ishmael away.  He wasn't distressed for Hagar, the word was evil in his eyes because of Ishmael.  It sounds like a natural attachment of a father to a son, but God says something interesting, "...through Isaac your descendants will be named."  That hadn't been brought up, but wouldn't it be strongly inferred from the promise?  God will make Abraham a great nation, and the promise is to pass through the promised son.  Yet, God has to tell Abraham again, more specifically.  It's as if Abraham still holds on to the possibility that Ishmael can carry the blessing of God; or at least his family blessing.

I see two possibilities that could be true at the same time.  I think Sarah is jealous and I think Abraham has given her reason to be.  He seems to still hold on to a primary position for Ishmael in his heart.  It shows up when he is asked by Sarah to send Hagar and Ishmael away.  God finally points it out.  But God appreciates that this view isn't evil in a character sense, but it is evil in a "faith" sense.  It is contrary to the direction laid out by God.  Abraham still hopes for Ishmael.  And God honors the character of Abraham.  He again promises to make Ishmael into a great nation. 

The point I take from this is that my Master knows me better than I know myself.  He sees the places where I'm in denial.  He sees the places I'm completely blind to my weaknesses.  But He also is diligent to correct those faith flaws that aren't necessarily character flaws.  In other words He corrects character that distracts from faith.  It may not have been Abraham's problem, but when my Master reveals character that is contrary to His call, I also discover that the character quality is often about me rather than my Master. 

An example of this is discernment.  Through the study of Scriptures, I can often discern when people and situations deviate from my Master's design.  This isn't all that unique, in fact it's really common.  But when I decide to step in where I'm not invited either by my Master or the person(s) involved, that discernment becomes about me rather than about my relationship with my Master.  Sometimes my Master does invite me, and then it's a faith issue to become involved.  But if I'm not prompted by His Spirit, and the person hasn't asked, then I need to draw from my discernment and pray specifically for the person(s) in that situation.  That's just one example, but it demonstrates the difference between the unrighteous good and the righteous good.  One is about me, that is self-righteousness.  The other is about my Master, and that's true righteousness.

Who's Wife Is It Anyway?

After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. (Genesis 16:3 NASB)

One of the most difficult things to factor into interpretation of the Bible is ancient near eastern culture.  In this verse there at least three, and an argument can be made to include more.  Abram and Sarai are from southern Mesopotamia, live in Canaan, and Sarai has an Egyptian maid.  If the variety of cultures represented in Canaan are included, the number increases by at least double.

I bring this up because this verse says that Sarai gave Hagar to Abram as his wife.  From the context, it doesn't seem that this meant that Hagar had the status that Sarai had with Abram, as understood by either Mesopotamian; unless this is the reason Sarai complains to Abram rather than just runs Hagar off.  On the other hand, Hagar the Egyptian seems to think her status equals or exceeds Sarai.  When God weighs in on the subject, He comes down on the side of Abram and Sarai.  We're never told what the Canaanites thought. 

What if Sarai wasn't quite sure what to think of Hagar's status nor hers before Abram?  Abram's response to her demonstrates that he still sees Hagar as his wife's maid, not another wife of the same status as Sarai.  What if Abram's not sure either which might be why he didn't step in earlier on Sarai's side.  On the other hand what male would do that?  That's just asking for trouble, because we never really know if we truly understand the problem, ever.

I pose this conundrum because I often run the risk of two dangers, both of which are deadly to understanding the inspired Scriptures and my Master who inspired them.  The first danger is interpreting too quickly without asking about the cultural influences, and trying to minimize my own.  This makes Abram and Sarai living and acting in America of the Twenty-first Century, which is obviously ridiculous.

The second is falling in love with my interpretation once I reach one.  When such cultural influences from several millennia cloud my understanding (and anyone else's) I have to accept the possible variety of understandings.  What I risk by loving my own is missing the view of my Master gained from the perspective of others.  He is far too magnificent to fit into a single mind, especially one clouded by self-love.  It's early, and my head is already fuzzy; the coffee is gone, and another is needed.  What I need to do is let those be the only clouds of my mind.  So, I suppose I need more practice.

Hearing The Hearing God Without Being Distracted By Him

Gen 16:11-14 (NASB)

11 The angel of the Lord said to her further,

“Behold, you are with child,
And you will bear a son;
And you shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the Lord has given heed to your affliction.
12 “He will be a wild donkey of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand will be against him;
And he will live to the east of all his brothers.”
13 Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “ You are a God who sees”; for she said, “ Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer- lahai- roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

God commands that the "wild donkey of a man" be called Ishmael, meaning "God hears". But Hagar (and everyone using the well) called God, the God Who sees. It's not like I have to choose which one is right, but this is somewhat like today: I choose for myself which truth of God I want today, rather than listen for His lesson.

Again, it's not that the truth I choose isn't truth, it's more that it's not the lesson my Master is teaching me about Himself right then. Ironically, here He calls Himself the Hearing God, but Hagar isn't listening. She's so distracted by having seen God and survived. Again, not wrong, just ironic.

How patient my Master is with me to teach me but permit me to walk away with a different lesson. What do I miss when I do that? I perceive Truth when I meet my Master, He is the Truth, the Way, and the Life. Yet when I come away with a different truth than the truth He has for me, what have I lost? Perhaps the good versus the best, or perfect?

The question, or application, or lesson is "Do I listen to the Listening God, or am I too distracted by another of His 'Truths' to hear the one He has for me today?" He is the Listening God, but am I His listening servant? It's good to be called His Knight and His servant; I am close to Him by invitation. But am I hearing what He says or distracted by what I see? I suppose once again it's a pride issue, and a submission issue. Why am I not through these yet?  Well, I suppose I have some quiet listening to do. I better get on it.

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Who's In Charge Here?

After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me." But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight." So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence. (Genesis 16:3-6 NASB)

I have often wondered about Sarai's character, here and in other passages.  I have wondered what she knew and understood about her husband's faith, and wondered whether she shared it overly much.  This passage is one of those small windows into her character.  But it only provides a small glimpse of what kind of woman she was. 

She arranges the surrogate mother thing between Abram and her maid, Hagar.  He complies, and it works.  But Hagar doesn't follow the program, instead, treating Sarai as if the child will belong to Hagar.  Sarai, doesn't deal with Hagar as a lady to her maid, but goes to Abram.  It's an interesting move, that may give insight into the household relationships.  To someone from our culture, it might sound as if Sarai is being disrespectful to Abram, but I don't think so.  I think that, rather than assume Hagar has no position before Abram, she asks.  That seems rather submissive even if her wording is very intense.

Depending on what they understood of the promise God made with Abram, perhaps Hagar saw herself as the "mother" of that promise.  Regardless of what was going on in her heart and head, she treated Sarai with contempt.  The word used is the same word used for "curse" in Genesis 12:3, with reference to those who might curse Abram.  It is the opposite of "honor" using the same imagery of weight; to honor is to "make heavy" and to despise is "to make light".  This is a very wrong move for a slave girl to make. Her consequence is to be driven off.  She realizes that her status in the household is not as she assumed, but only too late.


Sarai invokes the name of God to Abram, calling Him as Judge between them.  This at least acknowledges that Abram has faith.  Yet, in previous passages, she goes along with decisions of Abram that would require tremendous amounts of trust in her husband's faith; trust that would have to transcend Abram and attach to God.  She would have to agree and even understand for herself the character of God to permit the sacrifice of Isaac.  She would need some stiff faith to allow Abram to refer to her as his sister repeatedly.  So what is it here?


Here I believe that Sarai is forcing a point with Abram, but also seeing where his heart is.  From a passage later on (actually chapter 17, I think), it becomes clear that Abram really loves Ishmael and wants the promise of God to go through him.  God has other plans, but if that is true, it's possible that Sarai was right to "test the ground" with her husband before running off his hope of a fulfilled promise.  


I guess what I bring away from this is that, in my dealings with those around me, I should be willing to clarify my understanding of where others are with God before running off willy nilly with what I think.  I should instead return to the picture I used ages ago in a church where we had a puzzle of Noah's ark.  Everyone in the church got a puzzle piece, and not all the pieces were handed out (not enough people in the church to complete the puzzle).  The resulting image was complete enough to see what it was, but still not complete enough to finish the picture.  The point was that our vision from God takes a church with each person working with the gifts God gives, including leadership.  It all fits together, or should.


The results are not perfect though.  People may work with the gift they want instead of the gift God gives.  People may not walk in the call they are given, or fearlessly follow the piece of the vision God has given them.  People don't always listen to others, including God.  It's hard for me to wait for the complete vision, seeking to move ahead, champing at the bit to get to the next thing God wants to do.  While that is good in a sense, it also becomes a distraction to listening.  Like Sarai, I need to test the ground before my Master.  I believe I know what I'll find, as Sarai probably knew.  But assuming is usually wrong, even if it's right.

Finding My Master in Sin CIty

Now the angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. (Genesis 16:7 NASB)

Why would the Angel of the LORD be on the way to Shur (southern region of Canaan near Egypt)?  My guess is that He was looking for Hagar.  The promise to Abram wasn't involved here.  This isn't about the land nor about Abram's descendants.  So, why do this?

This is clearly an act of grace, but it takes place in the midst of Hagar's consequences for mistreating Sarai.  Since she was the surrogate she didn't have the status of wife (per se) since she was the hand maid.  She would have known that, so it's very possible that she mistreated Sarai out of pride.  She sinned, and yet here is the Angel of the LORD looking for her.

The character of the LORD shown here is so reminiscent of Jesus.  He sought the surprising people to show favor.  The widow giving only one mite was worth His rapt attention and praise.  The tax collectors, Levi and Zachaeus were both worthy of His attention and friendship.


I see the same pattern with me.  I fall down and He raises me up.  He seeks me when in the midst of my temper tantrums, doldrums, and pity parties.  Right now, I'm doing great.  I'm in "Sin City", Nevada, yet here among the smut, I realize my Master is still seeking me.  I'm not sinning, I'm not running from the consequences of my past, and I'm not sunk in pride.  Not at the moment.


Finding that I've been found my Master is so comforting.  It reminds me that He truly is close, He has my back, He loves me, and I am called to submit to be His servant.  Even here surrounded by self-centered indulgence I am a Knight of the Realm, Servant of The King.  Well, it's time to grab my lance and horse, and get back to work!

Trial and Error or Recon by Fire: An Option To Find The Will of God

So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. (Genesis 16:2 NASB)

In the Ancient Near East (ANE), surrogate motherhood was not an unheard of solution for barren women of wealth and status.  In that culture the woman acting as the surrogate gave birth sitting on the lap of the intended mother in the birthing chair.  The child was then "born into the lap" of the intended mother.  Not terribly comfortable for anyone.

So, in the case of Abram and Sarai, the option of surrogate motherhood seemed like a valid one.  After all, God had said the promised child through whom would come the descendants like the dust and stars would come through Abram.  He hadn't mentioned Sarai in His promise.  Given the length of time between discussions, it could easily be assumed, God was not waiting on them.  Typically, Abram and Sarai (particularly Sarai) get a bad reputation here, and it probably isn't deserved.  In fact, their search technique for finding the will and direction from God is actually fairly common.

Don't just stand there do something!  We say it, we think it about ourselves.  Our culture tells us that activity is better than passivity.  I have bought into it, and I'm not alone.  I'm told this axiom by my employer, by my friends, wife, family where I came from, and myself.  On the other hand, over a decade ago, a new version had become popular, "Don't just do something, stand there!"  It's not as popular as it used to be.

One of my weaknesses is procrastination.  It's a weakness I plan on working on one of these days.  I am an avoid-er of things I should do, I know it, and I beat myself up about it.  I feel shame about it.  I sense the failing, the fear, the empty courage.  But in coming out here to Nevada, I had to face the fear of acting according to everyone else.  I waited on the opportunities and direction of God, and moved to obey without waiting for resources to do so.  It was one of the most faithful processes I have ever had the joy of participating in.

So, I know that sometimes what my Master tells me is to wait.  Then, for me, waiting is an act of obedience.  And at times, He says to go or move or do, and to then to wait for more from Him is to disobey.  In Genesis 16, Abram has been waiting, but it doesn't say how long.  The word from God at first was lots of descendants.  Then it was expanded to be lots of descendants from Abram.  To this point, Abram has moved and been obedient to the vague direction of his God.  He has believed his God, and that belief has been credited to him as righteousness. 

One detail he was given was that his descendants innumerable would not possess the land until after 400 years of slavery.  In other words, after waiting a long time.  So, Abram knew that waiting was included in the promise.  But the child to come through him really couldn't wait all that long, at some point Abram would die.  So, while he had been waiting and knew that waiting was included in the "land" part of the promise, he also knew that there was a limit on how long he could wait for the "descendant" part of the promise.

In this passage, really the only clue we have that this option was wrong was the discussion between the Angel of the Lord and Hagar.  There we discover that Ishmael would be blessed (sort of) as well, but was not the child of the promise.  So, the option of a surrogate mother was not how God intended to fulfill His promise to Abram.  The practical conventionally wise solution under the circumstances was not the leading of God.  But it didn't bother God either.  In fact He wove the child of Hagar into His will and work all throughout the life of His chosen people. 

In this instance trial and error wasn't working for Abram and Sarai to find the path to the promise of God.  This would have been an "error".  That's an option I often choose to find the will of my Master.  I can always tell by the "error" result that it's not working.  And I'm not really sure when I don't fail that I've truly found His path.  I wonder if He is "permitting" something I've chosen to attempt, as in His blessing of Ishmael; not great, but useful for later.  I realize that not knowing the will of my Master is never comfortable.  Sometimes I need to wait for His direction and act.  Sometimes I need to act when He speaks while I'm still blind.  The key is listening for His voice.  Actually, no, the key is hearing His voice, and receiving the whole message.

So, wait or not to wait.  How do I know?  Do I attempt to discover His will by trying various things until something works?  In the military we called that "recon by fire" where we would direct fire into an area where we suspect the enemy might be hiding.  Sometimes we would hit them, but most of the time we didn't.  Either way, we didn't loose a soldier.  Is that the way my Master wants me to find His will?  It doesn't seem so from this passage.  Perhaps I should put away my "guns" and make myself comfortable in the gallery outside the Throne Room of the King of Kings; read a book, drink coffee, pace the floor, I know the drill.

Obtaining The Promise of God

Gen 16:2 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

In the Ancient Net East, barren women of 'rank and privilege' would have a surrogate mother bear them a child. It was a strange custom where the surrogate mother would sit in the lap of her barren mistress in the birthing chair. Not comfortable for anyone really. So what Sarai proposes is a valid 'cultural' solution.

To be fair, God had clarified the promise of descendants by saying they would come from Abram; He hadn't mentioned anything about Sarai having the child. And with her being barren, it wouldn't have been an obvious assumption for them. So Sarai and Abram have received much undeserved criticism over the years for trying to "creatively" help God; they are just seeking His will like so many do today, by trial and error.

I think I do that a bit too much sometimes. I try to seek the will of my Master by trying stuff until I find the one that works. The one that works must be His will, right? Not here. God was working to bring about Isaac, but still permitted Ishmael. That may not have been where He was leading Abram and Sarai, but He worked with that too.

So when I seek the will of God, how do I know I have the whole thing yet? God hadn't mentioned Sarai, and culturally Hagar could have born her a legitimate son. What should they have waited to see or hear to know Sarai was the chosen mother? 

Any answer to this question is speculation, regardless of who, what, where, or how makes up the answer. Scripture doesn't say, and clues are subject to various interpretations. Here's mine, they should have waited for more detail just like they had been doing. In other words they were already doing what they were supposed to do. The only reason I say that is because they hadn't been given new direction. That's not a great reason. Suppose God hadn't given further direction because they didn't need any. As long as Abram was the father the promise was being kept, right? All along God has gone from vague to less vague; details have been in short supply. They moved their entire lives on less info from God.

Sometimes staying the course already plotted is good and God's will for change will happen more than be found. But sometimes God's will has enough latitude to include enough options I can choose among several. The factor in my choosing is often what I believe diminishes me and glorifies Him. In choosing among options or waiting for more direction, the motivating drive must be His glory or I will fail. And that's not a great option.

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AOL, Generosity, and Resources

Now the angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.  He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from and where are you going?" And she said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai."  Then the angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority."  Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, "I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count."  The angel of the LORD said to her further, "Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction.  "He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone's hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers."  Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God who sees"; for she said, "Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?"  Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.  (Genesis 16:1-14 NASB)

There has been lots of debate over whether the "angel of the LORD" was actually "the LORD" as opposed to an intermediary.  The account in Genesis 16 is the first appearance of this Bible character.  And in this account is also the first reference where the Messenger is closely tied with the One sending the message.  They are connected so closely, in fact, that to see the Messenger is to see the One sending the message.

Hagar had fled because she had treated Sarai, her mistress, with contempt and Sarai drove her away.  She had treated Sarai with contempt because she had become pregnant by Abram at Sarai's insistence.  Since she had become pregnant when Sarai couldn't she had contempt for Sarai; she forgot her place.

The Angel of the LORD (AOL, a better meaning than "America Online") finds Hagar on the way south back to Egypt (where Hagar is from).  There He opens the conversation with the question, "Where are you coming from and going to?"  One of the elements to this story that isn't questioned much is what did Hagar experience in this encounter that she could hold this conversation?  She replies, but did she see someone for her talk to?  It seems she did.  So the AOL is a visible character, and this is not a dream of Hagar's.

He helps her figure out what to do, how to behave, and what will happen.  It isn't all good news.  Her son will be a wild donkey-man; not all that encouraging.  And nestled away in this description is the news that Ismael will not be the "promised one".  Again, that couldn't be all that encouraging either.  Yet, there is the promise that her son would be a great nation with lots of descendants as well.  That was encouraging.  Bad news and good news; or good news, but not all that good.

So, after getting her "marching orders", she worships (called on the name of the LORD), and gives God a new name, El-Roi (yep, like the Jetsons, "...his boy Elroy...").  But for her it meant, "The God Who Sees", or "...sees me."  Her explanation for this is her wonder that she "remained alive after seeing Him."  So, Hagar understood that seeing AOL was the same as seeing the LORD. 

So, what's the point for me?  Hagar saw a physical manifestation of God.  From my perspective as a follower of Jesus, I call such sights Jesus, the physical manifestation of God as a man.  This is not a "required" understanding by any means, but for many (or some), these are categorized as "pre-incarnate appearances of Jesus"; a long fancy title for visits by Jesus before being born of Mary.  For many others, this is just impossible to consider; a ridiculous proposition.

That such appearances are of an "angel", and since the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 13:2 that some have entertained angels without knowing it just by being hospitable, I ascribe greater importance to being hospitable.  It's not just a messenger I might entertain, but the Message Sender!  If it's possible that Jesus could have visited Hagar on the road to Egypt, isn't it possible that He could also visit me in Northern Nevada?

I had a pastor once tell me that I should be careful to look for "demons under every rock" by which he meant, not everything bad is demonic, but often just people exercising their right to be foolish.   Such a view point also works for this.  I shouldn't look for Jesus in every stranger who shows up unlooked for.  On the other hand, I should be hospitable in general because I never know.  Jesus makes this interesting distinguishing evaluation of people at the final judgment in Matthew 25:31-46.  He basically points out that the "sheep" were generous and hospitable to Him without knowing it, and the "goats" weren't generous or hospitable to Him without knowing it.  Now he does make the point of saying that the "least of these" are opportunities to be generous and hospitable to Him, but still, the connection is there. 

So, the AOL inspires me to be hospitable and generous with others, perhaps with my church, and with my family. I can't look at my resources and decide that I can't afford to be hospitable, the calling the judgment of my Master is pretty clear on this point.  If He has called me to such actions so clearly in His Scriptures, then it really is up to Him to supply the resources.  I may not be able to afford to be hospitable, but my Master can.  So, when I need a simple disbursement, I know that I can have it because I'm simply obeying my Master, the Source of all I need anyway.  The resources are not my problem, only the submission and obedience.  That's nice to know.