Dust of destiny

May 31, 2006

By Stan Steward

Reading the story again of Hagar, Sarah’s servant (Genesis 16:1-16; 21:8-21), peeled another layer off my soul this week. Here was a young Egyptian girl who was sold as a slave while still a little girl. If we can read between the lines she was probably sold at the age of 4-6, old enough to take care of herself, young enough to train.

If this happened as the history of the day implies, Hagar was sold by her family (imagine that trauma, leaving mom, dad and siblings) displayed naked like an animal in the dust of the Egyptian markets, inspected like cattle, and then finally bought by Sarah as her personal servant.

That experience alone is enough for people today to use as the “crutch” of a dysfunctional home. But it gets worse. As soon as Hagar settles in to feeling as if she is safe, loved and needed, and looks to Abraham and Sarah as her adopted parents, she is informed that this 80+ father figure is now her husband. She complies and, probably as a very early teen, gives birth to a son.

Now Hagar has something to be proud of. She is the mother of the one who will eventually inherit the role, finances and belongings of father Abraham. But surprise! Twelve years later, barren, old Sarah conceives and gives birth to a son, Isaac. Now the rivalry begins to grow. A few years later Hagar is sent away with Ishmael her son. Disinherited, abandoned, discarded and banished. No matter how you interpret this, this was rejection at its fullest.

Wandering in the desert nearly dying of thirst, Hagar begins to sob. Genesis 21:17 says that God heard her son crying. After all, his name, Ishmael, means “God Hears You.” God opens Hagar’s eyes to a spring of water, gives her a promise of hope, and then Genesis records these words: “God was with the boy as he grew up” (Genesis 21:20, NIV).

Are you a Hagar or Ishmael today? Has the world or even your family and friends turned you out and away? There is something better waiting.

Hagar and Ishmael were allowed to go to the end of their emotional and physical limits. They were reduced to sitting in the dirt, waiting to die, and overcome by emotion. And that is when God stepped in. Hagar and Ishmael were refreshed and experienced God’s blessing in their lives. Genesis tells us that a mighty nation came from Ishmael.

God is waiting for you today to realize that without Him you are just waiting to die. Wait on God. Admit to Him you are at the end of your rope. He loves to arrive when we have given up. He is in the business of lifting emotional wrecks from the dust and giving us unimaginable destinies.

Stan Steward ministers with the Assemblies of God in Asia.