Life Lessons From Biblical Characters: Hagar

Last week, we saw how an impatient decision can affect our lives and families for years and generations to follow.

Today, we will take a little look at Hagar, the woman caught in the middle of Sarai and Abram's decision. 

As a maid servant, she had no say or choice in the events that happened.  She did as she was told, complied with the demands made on her, and obeyed her master and mistress.

When she became pregnant, her attitude towards her mistress Sarai changed.  She despised her.  Was it because she had conceived and her mistress could not?  Was it because she felt that she had given her master the child he had been promised and her mistress could not?  Whatever the case, she forgot her place.  She despised her mistress... and her mistress did not like it.

As women, sometimes when we feel like God has blessed us in a way that he has not blessed others, we like to flaunt our blessings.  We wave it around for others to see.  We brag about it to show that God has blessed us and not someone else.  We use our blessing as a way to exalt ourselves.  And then we don't understand why others do not rejoice with us.

Isn't it funny how we can always see what the correct course of action for someone else is, but when it comes to our own lives, we act on our feelings?  So how should we act when we are blessed by God? 

First, we should humbly remember that if it weren't for the grace of God we would never have received these blessings. 

Secondly, we are to use God's blessing on us as a way to bless others- not in a proud or boastful way, but humbly recognizing that we are His servants acting on His behalf and it is an honor that He has chosen to use us.

May God bless you today!