Genesis 16 has important messianic connections through the appearance of the “angel of the Lord,” which has a number of hallmarks of a divine manifestation. Hagar’s encounter with Elohim, where she names Him “El-Roi” (“the God Who sees”), foreshadows the Messiah’s ultimate role as God among humanity. The chapter and parallel passages in Isaiah 64 and Galatians 4 contrast human efforts to fulfill divine promises (through Sarai and Hagar) with God’s sovereign plan, emphasizing that salvation and fulfillment come through divine intervention, not human actions.
Readings: Jan. 18, 2025
