2. Genesis 16:1-6 v. 1, Sarai is rich, free and barren. Hagar is single, poor, and bonded. v. 2-3, Hagar becomes a means to an end. “Perhaps I will be built up in her.” v. 4, Instead of being built up, Hagar “looked with contempt on her mistress.” v. 5-6, Sarai blames others for the consequence of her choice. “Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.”

3. Genesis 16:7-13 v. 7, First time in the Bible that an angel appears to a human. v. 8a, First time anyone in the story speaks to Hagar, and she is even called by name! v. 8b, First time that Hagar speaks in the story. She knows where she is from, not where she is going. v. 9-12, Though commanded to return, Hagar’s pregnancy is blessed. The name “Ishmael” means “God hears.”

4. v. 13, Hagar is the first person in the Bible to “name” the Lord. She calls Him “The God Who Sees Me.” God is the only one in this story who dignifies Hagar as a human being made in His image. “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”

5. Genesis 21:8-21 After Isaac is born, the animosity of Sarah is broadened to include Ismael. v. 10, “Cast out this slave woman with her son” v. 11-13, Despite Abraham’s displeasure, God tells him to consent to Sarah. God will watch over Hagar and Ishmael. v. 14, Once again, Hagar finds herself exiled and dismissed.

6. v. 15-16, After the water runs out, Hagar weeps for her son. v. 17, God hears her cries. v. 18, God renews His promise. v. 19, God “opens her eyes.” v. 20, “And God was with the boy, and he grew up.” God does not see merely “Sarai’s slave.” God sees Hagar, and He cares for her.

7. Luke 7:36-39 v. 36, Jesus set down to eat in the home of a Pharisee. v. 37-38, A woman who was a “sinner” anoints the feet of Jesus and “wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.” v. 39, The Pharisees overlook the extravagant act of love and see only Jesus coming into contact with a person who is a “sinner.” v. 40-43, A short parable …

8. Luke 7:44-50 v. 44a, “Do you see this woman?” When Sarai looked at Hagar, she saw a slave. When the Pharisee looked at this woman, he saw a sinner. Jesus asks, “Do you see this woman?” Are we able to see and appreciate the lost, the needy, the downtrodden, and those considered to be the “least among us”?

9. v. 44b-46, This woman who many despised showed great love to Jesus where others had been merely “polite.” v. 47, Jesus sees her plight, her sin, and her love. He offers forgiveness to this woman though many could not even see her. v. 48, Jesus addresses her directly. He treats her as a person. He sees her. v. 49-50, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” He is the God who sees.