The Story of Hagar (Genesis 16)
Abram and his wife, Sarai, had a big problem. God had promised them a family as big as the stars in the sky, but they were very old and still had no children. Year after year they waited, but nothing happened. It was getting harder and harder for them to trust God's promise.
One day, Sarai had an idea. It was not a very good idea, but it seemed to make sense to her at the time. She said to Abram, "Maybe God wants us to have a child in a different way. Take my servant, Hagar, and maybe she can have a child for us." In those days, people sometimes did this when they could not have their own children. Abram listened to Sarai and agreed.
Hagar soon became pregnant, but things did not get better. Instead, they got worse. Hagar started to act like she was more important than Sarai, and Sarai became very angry. Sarai treated Hagar so poorly that Hagar ran away into the desert. She felt all alone and scared, with nowhere to go.
As she sat by a spring of water, sad and hopeless, something amazing happened. The Angel of the Lord appeared to her. This was a special messenger from God. The angel asked her where she had come from and where she was going. Hagar told him everything. The angel told her to go back and be kind to Sarai. He promised her that God would bless her son and give her so many children that no one could count them. The angel even told Hagar the name of her son, Ishmael, which means "God hears," because God had heard her cries.
Hagar was so amazed that she gave God a special name right there. She called him El Roi, which means "the God Who Sees Me." She knew that even when she was alone in the desert, God saw her, heard her, and cared for her. Hagar went back just like the angel told her, and in time she had a baby boy and named him Ishmael.
Even though Abram and Sarai made a mistake by not waiting for God's perfect timing, God still loved them. He kept His promise to them, but He also showed His kindness to Hagar. This proves that God always sees us, no matter where we are or what we are going through.
A Curious Question
What do you think it feels like to wait for a long time for something you really want? Is it easy to stay patient, or do you start to feel like you should take matters into your own hands like Abram and Sarai did?
Jesus Connection
This story shows us something amazing about God. He is the God who sees us, hears us, and cares about us. Even when people make mistakes, like Abram and Sarai did, God's love does not change. This reminds us of Jesus, who did the very same thing for a man named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was overlooked and left out by everyone around him, but Jesus stopped, looked up, and called him by name. Jesus left heaven to come to earth so He could be with us. He died on the cross for our sins so we could be part of His family forever. When you feel alone, scared, or forgotten, you can remember that Jesus is El Roi. This means He is the God who sees you and is always right there with you.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think it was so hard for Abram and Sarai to wait for God's promise?
- What does it mean that God is El Roi, the God who sees us?
- How does knowing that Jesus always sees and loves us help when you feel sad or alone?
"So What?" What Can I Do?
- When you start to feel grumpy or impatient while waiting for something, stop and say a "waiting prayer." Ask God to help your heart trust that His timing is best.
- The next time you feel sad or like no one is listening, remember God's name El Roi. Say it out loud to remind yourself that the God who sees you is right there in the room.
- Look for someone else this week who might be feeling lonely or left out. You can show them God's love by inviting them to play or being a kind friend.
Memorize God's Word
"You are the God who sees me." ~ Genesis 16:13
Hand Motions:
- You are the God: Point both hands straight up to the sky.
- who sees: Make circles around your eyes with your fingers like binoculars.
- me: Point both thumbs back at yourself.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father,
Thank You for being El Roi, the God who sees me. Thank You that You see us when we are happy and when we are sad. Help us to remember that we can always trust Your plan, even when it is hard to wait. Help us to show kindness to others so they can see Your love through us. We love You. Amen.
Craft or Activity
God Sees Me Binoculars
This craft helps kids remember that God sees them all the time. They can use the binoculars to look for things that remind them of God's love and care.
Materials Checklist:
- Decorate the Rolls: Have the kids decorate the two toilet paper rolls with markers or crayons. They can write "God Sees Me" on them or draw pictures of things they love.
- Glue Them Together: Glue the two toilet paper rolls together, side by side, to form the binoculars.
- Punch the Holes: Punch a hole on the outer side of each tube, about one inch from the top.
- Cut the Yarn: Cut a length of yarn or string long enough to go around a child's neck.
- Attach the Strap: Tie one end of the yarn through each hole.
- Go See: Encourage kids to use their new binoculars to "see" how God is at work in the world around them.
Effective Teaching Techniques
- For younger kids: Focus on the idea that God saw Hagar and that He sees us, too. Keep the story simple and less focused on the details of Abram and Sarai's decisions.
- For older kids: Use the discussion questions to explore the consequences of Abram and Sarai’s lack of patience. Talk about how their choice complicated things and how trusting God’s timing is always the best choice.
- Class management: While reading the story, you can use a map of the ancient Near East to show the kids where Abram and Sarai were and where Hagar ran away to. This adds a visual and geographic element to the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did Sarai give Hagar to Abram?
- Sarai and Abram had waited many years for God's promise of a child, and Sarai suggested that Hagar could have a child in her place, since that was a custom of the time. It was not God's plan, and it caused problems in their family.
- What does the name El Roi mean?
- El Roi means "the God Who Sees Me." Hagar gave God this name after He saw her, heard her, and cared for her when she was alone and afraid in the desert.
- What does the name Ishmael mean?
- Ishmael means "God hears." The Angel of the Lord gave Hagar this name for her son because God had heard her cries when she was suffering.