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Isolation is the state of being separated or set apart from others or being completely alone. Sometimes we like isolation when temporarily getting away from the cares of our lives in a small cabin in the woods or on a lake or beach. But isolation is completely different when that is our lives with seemingly no way of escape. Humans seem to wrap isolation around them when living in or going through hardships. We don’t want others to know or look upon us as wounded and bruised or needy. We put on our good face as we leave the house for everyone else to see when inside we are screaming. At some point a believer’s enemy will come and whisper, “Does God really hear you or care for you or even know where you are?” Then hopelessness is not far from our hearts if we don’t know or accept what God has revealed in His Word.

Scripture is full of cases where isolation is suggested but they don’t seem to speak to my abusive relationship or severe medical condition or any of the thousands of other things that can come into our lives today that bring a sense of isolation. But there is an answer to the questions – “Does God really hear you or care for you or even know where you are ”. It is found in an isolated verse we seldom pay attention to, about an isolated slave girl caught in a situation outside of her doing. Her name is Hagar, the slave of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

You will find her story in Genesis 16. The story begins with Abraham and Sarah being ancient and childless, but God had given them a promise of a son. Sarah even laughed at the possibility. They did not wait on God’s timing by trying to help Him out. Sarah forced her slave girl to become the second wife of Abraham and ultimately have a child with him. Please note, it doesn’t appear Hagar had any input into this decision. She wasn’t asked to participate. She was ordered and being a slave with death as punishment for being disobedient, she submitted.

As with many of our plans there were unforeseen circumstances. Hagar became the wife of Abraham and in time became pregnant with Abraham as the father. This child would inherit Abraham’s vast fortune upon his death being the first born. Since Sarah was not his biological mother there was no guarantee he would take care of Sarah if Abraham died first. Sarah began believing Hagar was despising her (Gen. 16:5) so Sarah began abusing Hagar, treating her harshly (Gen 16:6).The ancient biblical Hebrew word harshly is defined as an active oppression and suffering rather than minor friction or hurt feelings. The result was Hagar running away in the wilderness to escape her abuse (Gen. 16:6).

Now get the picture. Here is an Egyptian slave girl, pregnant, without any family or friends, trying to find her way in the vast wilderness. This is a good description of isolation and hopelessness. Just think of all the questions that are impossible for her to answer. She stops near a spring, probably trying to gather her thoughts and determine what her next move is. In her isolation and need God comes to her. There is no indication she prayed to Him or believed in Him, but God knew and came to her. Genesis 16:7-8 NIV, 7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” God gave her a promise but now she needed to return to the home of Abraham and be submissive to Sarah. Maybe Hagar was despising Sarah and needed an attitude adjustment. Hagar believed God and simply obeyed.

Now here is the remarkable thing about this event. Hagar gave God a name. I have read this is the only time in scripture where mankind gave God a name. Genesis 16:13 NIV, 13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” She called God El Roi, meaning, "You are the God who sees me", because God noticed her pain in her lowest moment.

God didn’t leave that lowly slave girl alone in the wilderness, alone in her isolation. He knew exactly where she was and what she was experiencing. God saw her with complete and total clarity. I know isolation is real. I too have heard the voice of my enemy speaking lies. But I too have experienced the God of isolation and discovered He was the same God Hagar experienced. He is there in your isolation as well just waiting for you to look up and let Him minister to you in a way that is meaningful to your specific type of isolation. Lamentations 3:25-26 NIV, 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Randy Harwood, Pastor, Spokane First Baptist Church