Article February 20, 1995 Issue

"What aileth thee, Hagar?"

Jan Johnston

A cold , confining winter was dragging on, and some problems seemed to drag on with it. I began to feel depressed. When I struggled to lift my thought, the question came, "What aileth thee, Hagar?" The words are from the Bible.

Hagar, a bondwoman, had borne Abraham his first son, because Sarah, Abraham's lawful wife, had not conceived (see Gen. 16:1–3; 21:9–20). Later, after bearing the son God had promised, Sarah insisted that Hagar and her son be sent away. Abraham obeyed, but only because God assured him all would be well. Hagar found herself and her son alone in the wilderness. When their small amount of bread and water was spent, Hagar put the child under a shrub to die.

Continuing the story, the Bible says that "the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is." And "God opened her eyes" and she found a well of water.

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