Women In The Bible Series: Hagar: A Woman Scorned
Lesson Six: Hagar: A Woman Scorned
Lesson Five: A Shulamite: The Beloved | Lesson Four: Wisdom: A Woman Called By This Name | Lesson Three: Zipporah: Married to the Ministry | Lesson Two: Tamar: Overcoming Your Past | Lesson One: Leah: The Unloved
Hello ladies, and welcome to my blog! This year I am going to write a series called Women of the Bible, where I will explore the lives of some of the Bible’s most notable female characters. I believe every woman’s story can be found in God’s Word – and those stories can bring hope and encouragement. I will touch on some serious topics such as rape, suicide and jealousy, along with some lighter ones such as love, righteousness and more. Together, we can discover what the Lord is speaking to His beautiful bride.
Before we begin, I also want to thank you for joining me throughout last year’s series on Church Decorum. If you like what you read, send me comments and let me know – it encourages me to keep writing!
Taking this journey together,
First Lady Vivian Pruitte
***
Her eyes plead with him. Hot tears burn as they stream down her face. “Won’t you even look me in the eye as you send me away?” she whispers, mostly to herself, her throat sore from crying.
As she begins to walk away her sadness gradually turns to anger. “Does he really think he can get away with treating me this way? I gave him 13 years of my life and now he thinks he can just toss me aside!”
Walking further into the desert plains, she can no longer bare to look at her son who cries out for water. “What about your son? Are you going to punish him too?” she spews the words out to the air, tightening her grip on the boy’s hand…
…it’s been ten years and the rage has not subsided within her. She is consumed with thoughts of revenge. “What would hurt him the most?” she asks herself day after day.
***
Hagar was a woman who found herself in a tough situation. The circumstances which led to marriage with her master were beyond her control. In fact, it was her mistress’ idea that Hagar marry him. Knowing the way humanity works, however, it is no surprise that deep-seated emotions became involved in their relationship. As the second wife of her master, Hagar evidently began to develop feelings for him – and along with those feelings came contempt toward her mistress. But when her mistress was finally able to bear a child, Hagar and her son quickly discovered that they were no longer needed. They were now in the way of the new child’s inheritance.
Watching the flagrant favoritism that was shown toward the new child obviously stirred jealousy within Hagar’s son. As children will do, the two boys developed a rivalry among themselves. This was the final straw that caused Hagar and her son to be expelled. Her position was immediately demoted from second wife, back down to bondwoman. And to add to her calamity, she was directed to leave the safety of her home and fend for herself in the wilderness.
Hell has no furry like a woman scorned is a famous quote that must have resonated with Hagar. Going from the mother of the sole heir of a great fortune to now being penniless and destitute was almost more than she could shoulder. Imminent death seemed to be her fate. The years spent in the desert did not diminish the evident hatred she felt toward her master and the way he mistreated both she and their son.
Being scorned can harbor feelings of deep resentment and fury. Thoughts of revenge may consume you as they must have for Hagar. But the satisfaction that comes with revenge is very fleeting. Once the feelings of gratification pass, feelings of guilt soon take up residence and you are left empty.
Revenge also goes so much further and hurts many more people than we can see on the surface. As a direct affront to her master, Hagar took Egyptian wives for her sons rather than Hebrew wives. God often warned His people of the dangers of marrying foreigners, for He knew they would turn the people’s hearts away from Him. This decision would also help continue the sibling rivalry between the two sons for generations to come. To this day they are still at war against one another.
I imagine Hagar had no idea that her actions would be so far reaching. She was dealing with emotions without giving thought to how her decisions would impact her entire line in the future. God made a promise to Hagar that He would take care of her and the child. But Hagar likely felt it was not enough – she needed to be avenged and decided to help God out.
When we take matters into our own hands, we cannot possibly see the damage that is being done. Some of that damage may even be irreparable. This is why the Lord says, “Vengeance is mine…” If you feel you’ve been scorned as Hagar did, take comfort in knowing that it does not go unseen by God. He will take care of you and the situation.
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