Hagar was an Egyptian slave of Sarai, Abram’s wife. Sarai’s plans to use Hagar as a surrogate
mother had run into rough weather when Hagar began to treat her mistress contemptuously. Sarai
retaliated and Hagar had to flee (read Gen 16:1-14). Abram might have bought Hagar as a slave for
Sarai when he sojourned there to escape the famine in the land (Gen 12:10-20). The faith of her
owners in God would have rubbed off on her. Now famished and lonely, this pregnant woman is
wandering in the desolate wilderness not knowing where to go or what to do. Yet in that forsaken
and lonely place, she hears her name being called. It was an angel of the Lord! He reveals the plan of
God for her and the babe in the womb. “I will so greatly multiply your descendants that they cannot
be numbered for multitude”. But she was to go back and submit to Sarai, for to the Lord, she was
Hagar, the maid of Sarai.