Genesis 16: Hagar and the God Who Sees

Sarai, still childless, gave her servant Hagar to Abram so she could have a child through her. When Hagar conceived, conflict arose, and Sarai treated Hagar harshly, so Hagar fled into the wilderness. The angel of the Lord found her by a spring, told her to return, and promised that her son Ishmael would have many descendants. Hagar called the Lord the God who sees her.

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Read Genesis 16

World English Bible · 16 verses

¹ Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Sarai said to Abram, “See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my servant. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, she despised me. May Yahweh judge between me and you.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Yahweh’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Yahweh’s angel said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, that they will not be counted for multitude.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposed to all of his brothers.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Open Preschool on its own page

Genesis 16 · Preschool

God Saw Hagar

Name Date

Color the spring of water and the angel. God saw Hagar and cared for her. God sees you too!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?”

Genesis 16:13 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God sees you. He knows when you are sad, and He cares.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Genesis 16 · Grade 4

Running Ahead of God

Name Date

Read and Think

God had promised Abram a son, but years passed with no child. Sarai suggested a plan: Abram would have a child with her servant Hagar. Abram agreed. But this plan came from impatience, not from asking God.

The plan brought hurt to everyone. Hagar despised Sarai, Sarai blamed Abram, and Abram stepped back. Sarai dealt harshly with Hagar, and Hagar fled. When we run ahead of God, our shortcuts often cause pain.

Yet God showed kindness to Hagar, a servant from Egypt who had little power. The angel of the Lord found her in the wilderness, spoke to her by name, and gave her a promise for her son. She named the Lord El Roi, the God who sees. God noticed the person everyone else overlooked.

Show What You Know

Why did Sarai suggest her plan?
What problems did the plan cause?
How did God show kindness to Hagar?
What name did Hagar give the Lord, and what does it mean?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

HagarangelGodsees

had promised Abram a son, but years passed with no child.
Sarai suggested a plan: Abram would have a child with her servant .
The of the Lord found her in the wilderness, spoke to her by name, and gave her a promise for her son.
She named the Lord El Roi, the God who .

Think About It

When have you wanted to rush ahead instead of waiting? What happened?
Hagar felt alone, but God saw her. How can you show God's care to someone who feels alone?

Memory Verse

She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?”

Genesis 16:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you notice someone others overlook?
When have you tried to fix things your own way, and how can you wait on God?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Genesis 16 · Grade 5

El Roi: The God Who Sees

Name Date

Read and Think

Ten years after arriving in Canaan, Abram and Sarai were still waiting for the promised son. Sarai reasoned that the Lord had kept her from having children, so she gave her Egyptian servant Hagar to Abram. Abram listened to Sarai, much as Adam once listened to his wife instead of to God's word. The plan was human strategy, not faith.

When Hagar conceived, she looked on Sarai with contempt. Sarai blamed Abram, who told her to do as she wished. Sarai mistreated Hagar, and Hagar fled toward Egypt. No one in this story acts well, and the household of promise is full of conflict.

Then comes the first appearance in the Bible of Yahweh's angel. He finds Hagar by a spring, calls her by name and asks where she is going. He tells her to return and submit, and promises that her offspring will be multiplied. Her son will be named Ishmael, God hears, because the Lord has listened to her affliction. Hagar responds by naming the Lord a God who sees. The God of Abram cares even for a runaway foreign servant.

Show What You Know

What custom did Sarai use, and why was it a problem?
How does Abram's response echo Genesis 3?
Describe how each person acted wrongly.
What does the name Ishmael mean, and why was it given?
What does this chapter show about God's care?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

caresHagarseesGod

Sarai reasoned that the Lord had kept her from having children, so she gave her Egyptian servant to Abram.
Her son will be named Ishmael, hears, because the Lord has listened to her affliction.
Hagar responds by naming the Lord a God who .
The God of Abram even for a runaway foreign servant.

Think About It

Hagar was seen by God when she felt alone. How does knowing God sees you change how you feel in hard times?
Why do you think God's people are tempted to use shortcuts instead of waiting for God? How can we wait well?

Memory Verse

She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?”

Genesis 16:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you notice someone others overlook?
When have you tried to fix things your own way, and how can you wait on God?
How can you show kindness to someone who has been treated harshly?

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Genesis 16: Hagar and the God Who Sees

Read Genesis 16

Worksheets

God Saw Hagar

Prayer

Take It Home

God Sees

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

The God Who Sees

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

The God Who Sees

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

God Hears and Sees

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Story Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Running Ahead of God

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

El Roi: The God Who Sees

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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