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Different, but Similar

Genesis 16 tells the story of Hagar. But it also mirrors our personal unemployment story, in a way. How so?

In Hagar's life, she operated in the background as a servant of Sarah, Abraham's wife. Because of some decisions and inabilities on Sarah's part, Hagar was thrust into the limelight. Though Hagar generated the desired results (she conceived a child with Abraham while Sarah could not), problems arose because of jealousies between the two women, and Hagar ran away into the desert.

While my husband didn't run away from his former place of employment but rather was downsized due to a tough economy, our time of unemployment has often felt like a walk through a desert. The example of Hagar's experience in that bereft place brings some reassurance to us as we trust God for this ride through joblessness.
You see Genesis 16:7 says "the angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert..." Hagar was pregnant and dying of thirst, but God knew where she was every minute. He found her, because He had never lost her. In similar fashion God has never lost us, either.

And what was Hagar's response to this? Genesis 16:13 says Hagar "gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me.'" Hagar saw God; and we seek to see Him today, too. We're different, but similar. The God who sees and knows the life of Hagar is the same God who sees and knows my lie, your life, the lives of His children going through joblessness and tough times.

If you read the rest of Genesis 16 you'll see that while Hagar waited at a nearby spring to rest up, God gave her clear direction what to do next. It will be the same for you and me and my husband. If we just wait where we are and trust God to lead us, His coming to us will be as clear as His coming to Hagar. His words and direction to us will be as specific and helpful as His words were for her. All we have to do is ask God to forgive our fears and thank Him for His faithfulness. Remember, He is the God who sees. And He will provide.

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