Write from My Heart

Friday, February 27, 2026

Habakkuk's Prayer

Habakkuk 3:2, 16b, 18-19a (NIV) ²LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. ... ^16bYet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. ... ¹⁸yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. ^19aThe Sovereign LORD is my strength...

There is no other more appropriate response Habakkuk can offer to the LORD. He has made his complaint; twice. The LORD has patiently responded; twice. Habakkuk knows Judah will receive their just consequences for their disobedience to God at the hands of the Babylonians. It will be an awful consequence and one that is hard to bear. And yet, in God’s mercy, he will also tend to the ruthless Babylonians, for they too, will meet a similar fate. Yet through it all, Habakkuk finds his strength in his Sovereign LORD; he will rejoice in God, his Savior. There can be no better response.

Dear friends, we may not know what circumstances await us. God’s wisdom is far beyond our own. We can rest in the confidence that God sees all and knows all. He hears every prayer we offer, and he is faithful to respond in his timing according to his will. We find our strength in him, and in his strength, we find joy in times of challenge.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your wisdom. Thank you for hearing our prayers. You know what circumstances go before us. We ask for your guidance and your strength to trust your wisdom.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Thursday, February 26, 2026

The LORD's Answer, Again

Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NIV) ²Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. ³For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

Habakkuk gets his answer. The LORD will take care of the ruthless Babylonians. The next 16 verses in our modern Bibles (Habakkuk 2:4-19) give reliable testimony as to how the whole matter will turn out. To note just a few details:

· the enemy [Babylonians] are puffed up (v. 4)

· their desires are not upright (v. 4, c.f., Isaiah 57:17)

· they profit unjustly from plundering other nations, including Judah (vs. 8-10)

· all their efforts will go up in smoke; their work will be for nothing (vs. 12-13)

· soon it will be their turn for destruction (vs. 8, 16)

Habakkuk knew then, as we know now, the LORD God Almighty keeps his word. History bears this to be true, for in 539_BC, approximately 47 years later, the Babylonians fell to the Persians.

And one more side note, remember Habakkuk’s question as to whether the LORD could sit back quietly and watch the plight of his people? How humble he must have been to hear the LORD’s rebuke:

Habakkuk 2:20 ²⁰The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

You are the God who sees everything. Your wisdom is beyond human understanding. We humble ourselves before you and cry out, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you,” (2 Chronicles 20:12). Forgive us where we fail you, and cleanse us from every wrong.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The devotional The LORD’s Answer, Again appeared first on

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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Habakkuk's Second Complaint

Habakkuk 1:12-13, 17 (NIV) ¹²LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, LORD have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish. ¹³Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? ... Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy?

Habakkuk presented his first complaint to the LORD; he asked for justice on behalf of the nation of Judah. The LORD warned Habakkuk that he would act; but that Habakkuk wouldn’t believe it even if you were told (c.f., v.5). How could Habakkuk possibly have imagined that God would send justice to Judah in the form of the ruthless Babylonians? This seems to be too much for Habakkuk to mentally process; he is overwhelmed as evidenced by his response.

To be clear, I am never a fan of loose paraphrases. But I can almost imagine the barrage of questions invading Habakkuk’s mind. LORD, my Rock, you are Holy...you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Can you really allow the ruthless and barbaric Babylonians to swallow up your people? Can you really sit back silently and watch the Babylonians destroy Judah? How far will the destruction go? Will there be any mercy?

Yet even in this, Habakkuk knows Who is in charge. Habakkuk knows the omniscience and omnipresence of the LORD God Almighty. Nothing is hidden from God’s sight. Habakkuk knows to wait for the LORD’s response.

1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV) ⁹...acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought.

Psalm 11:4 (NIV) ⁴The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.

Psalm 24:1 (NIV) ¹The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

Psalm 33:13-15 (NIV) ¹³From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; ¹⁴from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—¹⁵he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

Hebrews 4:13 (NIV) ¹³Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Habakkuk 2:1 (NIV) ¹I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

You hear every prayer we offer to you. You are faithful to respond in your own way and in your own timing. Grant us patience to wait for you, especially in those times we lack understanding; for you know what is best.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

The LORD's Answer

Habakkuk 1:5-7, 11 (NIV) ⁵Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. ⁶I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. ⁷They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. ... ¹¹Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—guilty people, whose own strength is their god.

First, we should note that this is a directive for the whole nation of Judah, not just Habakkuk. Second, we should note that the LORD always does what he says he will do.

Deuteronomy 10:17 (NIV) ¹⁷For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (NIV) ³I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! ⁴He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

Job 42:1-2 (NIV) ¹Then Job replied to the LORD: ²“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

Psalm 33:4, 11-12a (NIV) ⁴For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. ... ¹¹But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. ^12aBlessed is the nation whose God is the LORD...

Isaiah 14:24 (NIV) ²⁴The LORD Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.”

Isaiah 55:8, 11 (NIV) ⁸“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. ... ¹¹so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

The LORD revealed to Habakkuk that he would send the Babylonians to conquer the disobedient nation of Judah; the nation who refused to serve the LORD God Almighty and him alone; the nation who repeatedly sought after the gods of the nations around them. The LORD kept his word, for history tells us that Judah was indeed conquered by the Babylonians in 586_BC.

If there can be any “take away” or lesson to be learned today, it is that the LORD keeps his Word. Our Heavenly Father does not use idle words nor empty threats. When he warns people to have no other gods except him, alone; he means it. When he offers salvation through the sacrifice of his only, Son, Jesus Christ; he keeps his word. When he tells us that Jesus Christ is the only way to the promise of redemption and the blessed hope of restoration; God means what he says.

John 3:16-17 (NIV) ¹⁶For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 6:40 (NIV) ⁴⁰For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

Romans 3:22-25 (NIV) ²²This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.

Romans 10:9-10, 13 (NIV) ⁹If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ... ¹³for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being the only, one true and living LORD God Almighty. Although we fall short of your will and plans in so many ways; we are so humbly thankful for the mercy and grace you show us. Thank you for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Thank you that we can always depend upon the truth of your Word.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Monday, February 23, 2026

Habakkuk's Complaint

Habakkuk 1:3-4 (NIV) ³Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. ⁴Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

Habakkuk is listed as one of the Minor Prophets in our Bible...not because his message was in any way “minor” in substance or quality; but only because its length was shorter. Habakkuk was a prophet to the nation of Judah between the times of Jeremiah and Daniel; he was their contemporary. Habakkuk’s message prophesied the fall of Judah to the Babylonians, which history records occurring in 586_BC.

Reading this passage from Habakkuk is like reading any modern-day news headline. Habakkuk’s complaint to the LORD is echoed within many of our own complaints today. What is wrong with our nation? What is wrong with our world? Why do bad things keep happening? How did we get to the point that our legal systems are so topsy-turvy, politically-biased, and just plain perverted? How long will this keep going?

My friends, we already know the answers. The problem with our nation and our world is that we have not chosen to follow the LORD our God. This is not a new problem; this is an age-old problem that we have maintained through generations of disobedience and lackadaisical half-heartedness to God.

Psalm 12:1-2 (NIV) ¹Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. ²Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.

Psalm 14:1 (NIV) ¹The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NIV) ²⁹This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.

Isaiah 59:2, 7-8a, 14-15 (NIV) ²But your iniquities have separated you from your God, your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. ... ⁷Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways. ⁸The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. ... ¹⁴So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.

Jeremiah 2:17 (NIV) ¹⁷Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the LORD your God when he led you in the way?

Hosea 4:1b (NIV) ^1bThere is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.

Romans 1:28-32 (NIV) ²⁸Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. they are gossips, ³⁰slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. ³²Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

2 Timothy 3:1-4 (NIV) ¹But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ²People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...

Titus 1:15b-16 (NIV) ^15b...but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

God demands loyalty and faithfulness. Habakkuk’s message to the nation of Judah (ca. 609_BC - 598_BC), is just as relevant for all nations of the world, including the United States of America, today (_AD2026). And lest we think we are somehow personally exempted; not included among the qualities and characteristics of those evildoers listed above; perhaps we should reread those passages with ears to hear, eyes to see, and a mindful heart to understand.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your love and mercy. We confess that we enjoy reading the happy portions of scripture; yet we know all scripture is provided by you, and much of it for our rebuke and correction. Examine our hearts. Cause within us need for repentance; thankfulness for your redemption; and the blessed hope of restoration.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The devotional Habakkuk’s Complaint appeared first on

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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Friday, February 20, 2026

A Lesson from Jesus

God created the heavens and the earth, as well as mankind to inhabit it, (c.f., Genesis 1:1, 27). His plan was to dwell with his creation, but mankind chose to follow creation rather than the Creator. This caused the Fall that leaves our world tainted with sin, and will continue to do so until Christ’s return. Yet God planned in advance for our Redemption through the sacrifice of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, (c.f., John 3:16-17). Today we continue in the New Testament and we enter the story as Christ is warning his disciples of things to come.

John 13:1b, 3, and 7 (NIV) ^1bJesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ... ³Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God... ⁷Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

God’s plan for Redemption would culminate in the death and resurrection of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus knew that time for the fulfillment of God’s Redemptive plan was imminent. He spent his last hours preparing the disciples for what was to come. And although the disciples were not yet aware, Jesus bestowed upon them the most precious of promises—an advocate who would help them during the time Jesus would be with his Father until the promised time for Christ’s return—the time of Restoration.

John 14:16-18 (NIV) ¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—¹⁷the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

This is truly amazing. Yet the promise to his disciples is only part of the promise; Jesus extended this promise beyond his disciples to all people yet to follow. The promised advocate includes us. We are not left alone. For those who choose to believe, the Spirit dwells with us and within us.

John 17:20 (NIV) ²⁰“My prayer is not for them alone, I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.”

Acts 2:21 and 38-39 (NIV) [Peter’s message] ²¹And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. ... ³⁸Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Forgive our sins and for the many ways in which we fall short of your glory. Thank you for redemption through your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for the promised Holy Spirit to advocate for us, to comfort us, and to guide us until the time you have determined for Christ to return, when all things will be restored. We give to you all honor and glory.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Thursday, February 19, 2026

A Lesson from David

The temptation for us is to view the Bible as a book about us, our needs and our wants, and as a guide for planning out our daily course of action. Yet if we read carefully, we discover the Bible is a Book about God; his Creation, the fall and disobedience of God’s creation, God’s plan of Redemption, and God’s promise of Restoration. When we read carefully, we see within all the smaller stories a much larger story that tells us who God is and what he expects from his faithful ones. Today, our text visits the life of the Psalmist David, who finds himself in the midst of affliction and oppression.

Psalm 10:14, 17 (NIV) ¹⁴But you, God see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. ... ¹⁷You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry...

How humbly grateful and thankful I am that I have never experienced true affliction or oppression. The old 1964 Webster’s on my desk tells me that affliction is intense pain, suffering, and misery particularly caused by calamity. An oppressive burden is that which causes physical or mental distress as by some cruel or unjust entity. How quick the world seems to be to claim social injustice, affliction, and oppression as the reasons for all the difficulties and challenges we experience in life. While affliction and oppression do exist in our sin-tainted world; most of us will never experience it. The Psalmist David, did.

But we are jumping too far ahead, because this text isn’t about David. It’s about God. It’s about our omniscient God who sees everything, hears everything, and knows everything. Does he see the affliction and oppression caused as evil filters into the world? Yes, he does. Does he hear the cries of those in trouble? Yes, he does, (c.f., Psalm 11:4-5; 1 Peter 3:12). Does he intend to respond? He already has!

Revelation 21:2-5 (NIV) ²I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Gracious Heavenly Father,

We recognize those who are truly suffering from affliction and oppression in our sin-tainted world. We offer prayers for help and comfort on their behalf. Forgive us for the times we elevate or exaggerate our own struggles and difficulties; yet we still humbly ask for the comfort, strength, and encouragement that only you can provide. Thank you for the blessed hope you give us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

A Lesson from Joshua

Our story begins after the death of Moses when the LORD commissions Joshua to be the leader of the Israelite people. The commission comes with remembrance, instruction, and promise.

Joshua 1:5b-9 (NIV) ^5b“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ⁶Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. ⁷Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Once again we notice the attributes of the LORD God Almighty. He is omnipresent; never leaving nor forsaking his faithful ones. He is also omnipotent; for he provides all the power and might Joshua will need to fulfill the mission God is giving to him. Yet we also see the warning; be obedient; know God’s word and follow it—do not deviate from it—keep it on your lips and meditate on it day and night. What was Joshua’s response?

Joshua 1:10-11a (NIV) ¹⁰so Joshua ordered the officers of the people: ¹¹“Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready...’”

This is a story from the Old Testament. We may wonder; “that was then; this is now” what makes this story relevant to us today? From the story of Joshua we learn that God will prepare us for whatever task he assigns us. God has provided his written Word which has been preserved through the ages. The two greatest tasks he has given us is to love the Lord our God with our whole being, and to love others, (c.f., Matthew 22:37-40). Those two tasks are the foundation upon which our Heavenly Father may ask us to use other gifts, talents, and abilities for His service. Joshua did not hesitate to fulfill the task God set before him. His response was immediate...tell the people to get ready. So the question for us becomes, are we ready to do whatever the Lord asks of us? Are we willing to use the talents, gifts, and abilities the Lord has provided to us in order to serve Him?

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the story of Joshua which teaches us how you prepare us in many ways to work for you. We confess whatever hinders us or causes hesitation. You provide all the strength and courage we need to fulfill whatever tasks you set before us. Grant us the willing spirit to obey.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

A Lesson from Jacob

Our story begins as Jacob leaves Beersheba and sets out for Haran in order to find a wife from his father Isaac’s clan. In the days before hotel lodging, Jacob simply uses a stone for a pillow and camps out for the night. Jacob’s dream that night has been the topic of many children’s Sunday School stories as well as sermons. We see the famous stairway reaching the heavens with angels both ascending and descending. Yet I wonder if we notice the true story. For above the stairway stands El-Shaddai, the LORD God Almighty, and he has a message for Jacob. The message is both one of the blessing of offspring, and the promise of God’s watch-care.

Genesis 28:15 (NIV) ¹⁵“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

What small lesson can we glean from this story? Through the story of Jacob we catch a glimpse of God’s omniscience; that He is always very aware of the activity of all creation. Nothing is hidden from his sight, (c.f., Hebrews 4:13). We catch a glimpse of God’s omnipresence; that he is with us always, never will he leave us and never will he forsake us, (c.f., Deuteronomy 31:8; Hebrews 13:5). We have the assurance that God keeps his promises; his word will not fail, (c.f., Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; Luke 21:33). What was Jacob’s response?

Genesis 28:16 (NIV) ¹⁶When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

How does this relate to us today? We must ask ourselves, how often do I take the time to realize that my Heavenly Father is aware of my every thought, word, or action? Nothing I think, say, or do is hidden from his sight. Yet he also promises that he will never leave me nor forsake me...even during the times I am not aware of his presence in my life. He will never fail me. In a world where trust is hard to find; I can fully trust my Heavenly Father.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Too many times we forget to be aware of your presence in our lives. Please forgive us. Surely you are with us, even when we are not aware of it. Thank you for this precious promise.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Monday, February 16, 2026

A Lesson from Hagar

Our story begins with the distress of Sarai over her inability to give her husband, Abram, a son. As was the custom of the day, she presented her handmaid, Hagar, to Abram in order to give Abram the opportunity of offspring. However as soon as Hagar realizes she is pregnant she begins to despise her mistress, and in turn, Sarai mistreats Hagar to the point Hagar can no longer bear. Hagar runs away to the desert where she is soon visited.

Genesis 16:7-8 (NIV) ⁷The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. ⁸and he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.

Notice the questioning does not begin with “Who are you?”, because the angel of the LORD already knows who she is. He also is very aware of where she is from and what she is doing. The questioning seems to be a test of honesty. Hagar’s response was an honest one; “I’m running away...” The messenger is just as honest in his response. He confirms Hagar is pregnant, and he blesses her with the promise of many descendants. He gives her instructions for the child’s name, Ishmael, which means, “God hears.” But he also cautions her that Ishmael will be “a wild donkey of a man (v 12). Hagar is further instructed to return to her mistress and continue her responsibilities of service.

What small lesson can we glean from this story? Through the story of Hagar we catch a glimpse of the Big Story of the Bible; we see the Fall in both Hagar’s attitude and Sarai’s response. We see the Redemption in the promise of a child, and the Restoration of Hagar to return home. What was Hagar’s response?

Genesis 16:13 (NIV) ¹³She 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.”

How does this relate to us today? Our Heavenly Father knows us by name. He knows who we are, where we have come from, what we are doing, and what we are running away from. He seeks our honest answers. He is always ready to forgive and offer us redemption through his Son, Jesus Christ. He is gracious and merciful in restoring us to new life in Christ.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

You know us completely. You know our concerns. You know the attitudes of our hearts. Yet you are so gracious to forgive and restore. Thank you for being the God Who Sees.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com