How could this story be any messier? Abram’s wife Sarai, way beyond child-bearing age yet desperate to produce an heir, grabs onto the chance for surrogate birth, a practice of her time. She gives her Egyptian servant Hagar to Abram in hopes of a pregnancy, and Hagar soon conceives. But things between Sarai and Hagar immediately go bad. Hagar shuns Sarai, and in anger Sarai blames Abram, who hands the problem right back to Sarai, saying, “Your slave-girl is in your power, do to her as you please.” And Sarai does just that!

Who is to blame here? Sarai, who chooses the only option she sees for bringing to life God’s promise of offspring? Hagar, for resenting her mistress’ claim to her child? Abram, who refuses to take a stand on the matter?

The one constant presence throughout this tangled story is the God who loves all of them fiercely: Sarai and Abram, Hagar and her child. At least three times in the surrounding chapters we are reminded of that love as Abram is repeatedly promised descendants too numerous to count. Some scholars attribute this repetition to the differing perspectives of various writers, whose versions were later folded into a colorful, if confusing, narrative. Together these differing accounts continually support God’s promise: from the mess these humans have made, God is determined to build a life-giving future.

Hagar, too, receives this promise. But abused by her mistress and cast out with no rights, how can she trust the God who gives it? As her fear melts into thanksgiving, she dares to call this one who speaks to her El-roi, which can be understood as, “the god who sees me.” Hagar is seen and valued by God, as is her son Ishmael, who will indeed father a multitude of offspring.

Human plans can go so very wrong, can’t they? Years before seminary, I worked toward an advanced academic degree and the career of my dreams. But a series of financial and personal roadblocks caused me to step away. Though the pain of that decision is still sharp, looking back I see that God’s plan was at work all along, to equip me with skills for a new path, the path of Gospel ministry. Throughout our own tangled stories, we can trust the same promise Abram, Sarai, and Hagar were given, that the God who sees us and knows us fully will never let us go.