Opened Eyes

The story is at best mystifying and at worst offensive. Sarah tells Abraham to “get rid of that slave woman and her son,” which is actually Abraham’s son, Ishmael. God tells Abraham to listen to Sarah, so Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael off into the desert! God did tell Abraham not to worry, that Ishmael would become a great nation, but it still leaves me scratching my head. (Genesis 21:8-19)

I don’t understand why God endorsed this course of action, but I do understand how Hagar probably felt. One day she is cared for and protected. The next day she is banished, not knowing who will protect and provide for her and her son. Eventually she runs out of water. Sure that they are both going to die, she hides her son under a bush, sits down, and waits for death to come.

Instead of death, God comes. He tells her not to be afraid, that he has great plans for her son. He replaces her fear with hope. At that moment, “God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.” (Genesis 21:19a, NIV84) It does not say God caused a water well to appear. It says God opened her eyes, and she saw it. Apparently it had been there all along.

This is something with which I can identify.  Grief, loss, discouragement, and hopelessness can blind us. The situations we sometimes find ourselves in can be so disheartening or appear so overwhelming that we can’t see God’s provision, even when it’s right in front of us.

In times like that, it’s helpful to remember God has a plan, just like he had a plan for Hagar and Ishmael. It may not be what we expected or wanted, but it’s a good plan, a plan that instills hope for the future.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV84)