Genesis 16:9

“The Angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.’” – Genesis 16:9

Hagar, a female Egyptian servant. Dragged into a situation she never asked for. Caught in the middle of Sarai’s desperation to produce an heir.

Hagar became the result of Sarai’s covetousness using another woman’s body to get what she wanted.

Everyone saw Hagar as property, not a person. Not a woman with a mind, a heart, and a will.

Hagar is a woman in the Bible who represents so many women today, those who’ve been exploited and abused against their will.

This is where we see clearly: abuse doesn’t come from God.

It’s an action made by human hands, born from greed and wickedness.

Yet something strange happens. An instruction is given to this woman who had been exploited and abused: to return and to submit, to her abuser.

What’s even more strange is Hagar’s response. She doesn’t ask, “Why, God? Why do You want me to return to the person who caused me suffering and pain?”

Instead, she responds with awe: Someone called me by name.

Someone saw me.

Called me by name.

Looked for me.

Heard me.

Recognized my pain. And gave me a promise, that I can still have a beautiful future.

And for Hagar, that was enough.

That moment with God gave Hagar the strength to return.

Because now, she wasn’t alone. God gave her the same promise He gave Abraham. And Ishmael, whose name means “God hears“. A child born from the exploitation of her body, became a living reminder that God rescued her and that He would use her suffering to bring forth something beautiful.

If you’ve ever been abused or exploited. If something was done to you against your will then you know the kind of exhaustion I’m talking about.

It’s not just physical.

It’s the kind of tiredness that sinks into your bones, the kind that steals your voice, your fight, your breath.

You’re too drained to even think about revenge.

You’re just trying to keep breathing.

But deep down, what we really long for is someone to notice. Someone to say, “I see you.” Because for so long, no one did.

We want someone who won’t turn away from the mess. We long for someone to stand with us. To make us feel we are not alone anymore, that we are seen and notice.

Someone to be the shoulder we can cry on when we don’t even have the words to explain the pain

Because sometimes, we don’t need solutions. We just need presence that assures us just like what God did for Hagar. No one else saw her pain, but God did. And when no one else believed she had a future, God gave her one.