GENESIS: God, Our Comforter in the Wilderness; "So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad. Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water."

And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac. (Genesis 21:1-3) So the child grew and was weaned. (Genesis 21:8)

And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son. (Genesis 21:8-11)

First Hagar, when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. (Genesis 16:4) She would eventually leave, but God instructed Hagar, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” (Genesis 16:9) Hagar and Ishmael stayed there for nearly fifteen years, and now because of Ishmael's behavior towards Isaac, Sarah was wanting them to leave again. She wasn't just asking some stranger to leave, this was Abraham's first son. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. (Genesis 16:16)

This was not an easy thing for him to do; But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. (Genesis 21:12-14)

Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bow shot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. (Genesis 21:14-16)

Hagar had had a similar experience before Ishmael was born, when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence. (Genesis 16:6) After God instructed her to return to Sarah, He made her a promise; Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” (Genesis 16:10) 

She should have been able to rest in the assurance that ...the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant...(Deuteronomy 7:9) ...God, who cannot lie,... (Titus 1:2) He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (I Thessalonians 5:24) Fortunately, God is ...the God of patience and comfort...(Romans 15:5) ...and the God of love and peace... (II Corinthians 13:11) 

He will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5); And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.” (Genesis 21:17-18)

During their previous encounter, Hagar concluded, she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” (Genesis 16:13) And God proved Himself to be worthy of that name, when she needed Him most.  No matter what may come to us in this life, if God allowed us to come to it, He is more than able to bring us through it.

Hagar couldn't see the promise of God on her and her son's life because of the difficulty of their current situation. Therefore, God reminded her of His promises before delivering her from the situation. Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt. (Genesis 21:19-21)

Jesus promised us that, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16;33) Therefore, while going through our times of tribulation, we must continue rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;... (Romans 12:12) Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. (Psalm 27:7) And He will, because not only You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees, but He also hears and answers our prayers, ...who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;... (Deuteronomy 7:9) AMEN!