Hagar enters the Bible with almost no voice of her own. She is “an Egyptian maidservant,” owned by Sarai, probably acquired during Abram's stay in Egypt. After ten years in Canaan with no child, Sarai says to Abram, “Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” The plan was accepted in that culture, but it was not God's plan. Abram “heeded the voice of Sarai,” and Hagar — who was never asked — conceived.
Sin multiplies quickly in a home that runs ahead of God. When Hagar conceives, Sarai “became despised in her eyes.” Sarai blames Abram: “My wrong be upon you!” Abram steps back and says, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” Sarai deals harshly with her, and Hagar, pregnant and alone, flees toward Egypt on the road to Shur. Everyone in this chapter is wounded, and the weakest person carries the heaviest load.
Then the story turns. “Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness.” She did not find Him; He found her. He calls her by name — “Hagar, Sarai's maid” — and asks two questions every runaway heart must answer: “where have you come from, and where are you going?” She can answer the first: “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” She has no answer for the second. God gives her one.
The Angel tells her to return and submit, but He does not send her back empty. He gives her a promise — “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly” — and a name for her son: Ishmael, which means God hears, “because the LORD has heard your affliction.” Many teachers believe the Angel of the LORD here is the Lord Himself, for Hagar says she has seen Him, and He speaks promises only God can keep.
Hagar answers by naming God: “You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees.” The well was called Beer Lahai Roi, the well of the Living One who sees me. A foreign servant, a pregnant runaway, a woman others had used — she is the one who gives God this tender name. Years later Isaac will live near this very well. The God of the patriarchs is also the God of the overlooked.