If anyone fits the term, “Innocent Bystander”, I’m thinking it’s Hagar. Not saying she was innocent as in “no sin, no wrong”, but that she was caught up in a story that really was almost entirely written by others.

Given by her mistress to her master in order to birth a child they would claim as their own? Not her choice. Rejected by the mistress after giving birth to that child? Not what she had signed up for. Sent away with her son after her mistress gives birth to her own son? Nope, not something she had a lot of control over.

Sometimes, the hands we’re dealt in life we’ve dealt ourselves. Other times, it’s just the cards we end up with due to things out of our control. I think that’s the kind of hand Hagar’s holding in Genesis 21. An innocent (though not innocent) bystander, I think.

And as I read about Hagar & Son this morning, it’s another one of those questions asked by God that strikes me. You know, questions like, “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9). Or, “Why are you angry?” (Gen. 4:6). Or, “Where have you come from and where are you going?” (Gen. 16:8). This morning, after Hagar and her son are kicked out of the house by Abraham and Sarah with but a little water and a little bread, it’s another of God’s probes that has me pondering. And that, because I hear the question asked of me.

When the water in the skin was gone, [Hagar] put the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.”

(Genesis 21:15-17 ESV)

What troubles you?

Fear not . . .

. . . God has heard.

That’s what I’m noodling on this morning.

Whether because we’re an innocent bystander or because it’s been self-inflicted, all of us have some “less than ideal” reality we are dealing with. So, queries the Spirit, “What troubles you?” What ails you? What’s the matter? What’s wrong that you feel should be right?

Who’s asking? God’s asking.

Asking not because He doesn’t know. But asking the question because He wants us to know that He knows. Wants us to remember that He’s present and engaged. Wants us to believe He cares. So that, remembering that God has heard, we might take courage and fear not.

That’s it. That’s what I’m chewing on. Another question asked by a great and gracious God.

What troubles you? Fear not. God has heard.

By His grace. For His glory.