After the angel of The Lord found Hagar in the desert and told her to go back to Sarai and submit to her, he also told her that her descendants would become so numerous as to be uncountable. Then he gave to her a prophecy about the child she carried, a boy she was to name Ishmael. This boy would not be the promised heir for Abram, since his birth was not part of God’s plan for fulfilling that vow. Despite being successful, Ishmael’s descendants would be characterized by their conflict with others, especially their “kinsmen,” meaning Abram’s other children. Historically, we see that this proves true: the (Arabic) children of Ishmael have been at odds with the (Jewish) children of Abram’s son Isaac for millennia.
In spite of the negative conclusion to the prophecy, Hagar speaks of the Lord in glowing terms. She names Him “a God of seeing.” He saw and looked after her, and she was allowed to see Him. She appears to be rightly astonished by the whole experience.
If you have ever deal with insecurity or felt like no one cares, today’s promise is just for you.
Let me remind you today that God knows you. He knows all about you; in fact, nothing is hidden from Him. He knows the good, the bad, and everything in between. Jesus said God knows you so well that He knows how many hairs you have on your head. For us older folks, He even knows how many hairs you used to have on your head.
Before You Were Born
Before you ever took your first breath, God knew you. He knew how tall or short you would be, the color of your eyes, the color of your hair, and a thousand other details. You are not a genetic accident; you are created by God, the Father. It was God who formed you in your mother’s womb. Even before you were born, He knew you and was working in your life.
He not only knew you, but He also formed you for His purpose. He told Jeremiah that He appointed Him as a prophet. He had a special message He wanted to tell the Children of God through Jeremiah.
God Has a Purpose
God has appointed you for His divine purpose as well. There are some good deeds that only you can do. He has called you to be a light in your world.
God has a plan for your life, and that plan is good. That plan began before you were born and won’t be completed until you see Him face to face.
God knows and loves you beyond your comprehension. He sees the wonderful person He created. He sees all the potential that He created in you.
Look at that promise once again.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. – Jeremiah 1:5
Make these confessions.
- God knew me before I was born.
- He formed me with His own hands.
- God has appointed me for a special purpose.
- I am known and loved by God.
In Jesus Name,
Amen