“God Sees Us. We See God.” with Rev. Lisa Yebuah

Hagar happens to be the slave woman of Sarah who happens to be one of the wives of Abraham.

And in the first part of Hagar's story, we find that Hagar has been exploited by Sarah Sarah's trauma is perpetuated.

Sarah's harm has been perpetuated.

And she gives over Hagar with no agency over her own body to her husband Abraham.

And Hagar gives birth to a child named Ishmael.

And that creates a whole lot of contempt on Sarah's part.

And she begins to mistreat Hagar.

And so Hagar runs away.

And she finds herself in the wilderness when Hagar runs away.

And Hagar recognizes in the wilderness that it looks like she is going to die.

And it says that God sees her in the midst of her deep sorrow.

God sees her in such a way that even Hagar names God El Roy, the God who sees.

And this second part of Hagar's story, which is also just as tragic, This is a moment where Hagar sees God.

Hear now these words in Genesis chapter 21, beginning with the eighth verse and ending with the 21st verse.

And as we always say here at the Southeast Raleigh table that we are a community that does everything from a spirit of invitation and not instruction, I'm going to invite you to take care of yourselves even as you hear this passage of scripture.

And the scripture tells us this.