Hagar, Treated Unjustly but Seen by GodSýnishorn

God’s promises to Hagar

“And the angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has listened to your affliction.” (Genesis 16:11)

The angel first required obedience from Hagar. Then he gave two promises, one for the distant future and one for the near future. The first was very similar to the promise that had also been given to Abram: “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.”

The second promise was more concrete and personal. The Lord had heard Hagar's affliction, and that meant He would also intervene. When the Lord listens to you, that is not without consequence! Her son's name would constantly remind Hagar of that promise. For the name Ishmael is derived from the verb shama, to hear.

Hagar's son Ishmael would not be a slave, but a free man, untamable like a wild donkey. His hand would be against everyone. Those words did indeed come true. In Genesis 25, we read of 12 tribal leaders that descended from Ishmael and lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.

The angel's promises and predictions must have given Hagar courage to persevere in her difficult situation. Are there any promises of God from the Bible that give you courage and hope? Which ones appeal to you most or least, and why particularly?