Heroes of Hope: Friday

Friday February 19, 2021

Created by Sammy DiBiaso

Genesis 21:15–19 (NIV)

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.

17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

Devotion

Sometimes heroes of hope are not the ones we see in the spotlight or who are consistently recognized. Sometimes heroes of hope are those who tend to be overlooked by society. It’s these heroes of hope who can offer us a glimpse of God’s justice-seeking love for the world.

Hagar is our hero of hope today. Hagar was the slave of Sarah and Abraham, who was forced to have Abraham’s child, Ishmael, due to the couple’s challenges of conceiving. However, later when Sarah gave birth to Isaac, Hagar was banished to the wilderness with her son. Tragically, Hagar had no money, no status, and nothing to eat but a loaf of bread. Yet, in the wilderness as she hid her son under a bush and cried out, God heard her (Genesis 21:15–17). God not only saw Hagar but sought her out when she was alone in the desert. God comforted Hagar, gave her something to drink, and promised to make her son into a great nation (Genesis 21:18–19). Hagar and her son lived, and God was with them.

Hagar is more than just a hero of hope, she is a beacon of hope for the oppressed and for those in exile. Hagar offers us a hope in God who not only seeks out the marginalized but offers them new life. Hagar is a hero of hope because she embodies a faith in God who sought justice for her, and who continues seeking justice for our world today.

Prayer

Good and gracious God, help us to find hope in this weary season. Amen.