At What Point Did You Meet Hagar? The Inanity of Human Judgment (3)

At What Point Did You Meet Hagar? The Inanity of Human Judgment (3)

He said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She replied, “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai.” Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.” – Genesis 16:8-9 (New English Translation)

We have been exploring the possible ways the society and people in our contemporary world would have reacted to the sight of Hagar, heavily pregnant, tired and looking all tattered as she fled her master’s house.

However, for those who may just be reading the story for the first time or paying more attention to it now, the response the man gave to Hagar must have come as a surprise. Why would the angel of God, who was a representative of God, say that Hagar should go back to where she fled? A house of terror? A place where she was beaten mercilessly, not minding that she was carrying a baby, and maltreated as if she was not a creature of God?

These same thoughts might have crossed the mind of Hagar too as she heard the solution the angel proffered to her problem. Return to Sarai? Not just to return, but she should submit to her? This was the Sarai who had treated her so wickedly and seemed not to care about her welfare. Who does that?

For anyone in Hagar’s shoes, this was a very unusual advice indeed. It was absurd to say the least.

Meanwhile, only God is wise. The foolishness of God, if there is any, is wiser than the wisdom of all the sages of the world both dead and living combined. God is also omniscient, who sees all and knows all. That was why He advised Hagar that the solution to her problem was not running away, but but submission. It was not relocation that Hagar needed, but returning back to the place she fled from, the place where she was planted.

But why would the angel of God give such a cold counsel to Hagar? Didn’t he know all she had been through? Didn’t he see how badly she was treated by her bosses who did not seem to value her person and her work?

To be continued…

You Will Succeed in Jesus Name!

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