Hagar

Hagar is an Egyptian servant in Abraham’s household. She is the mother of Abraham’s eldest son Ishmael, the forefather of the Arab people (Genesis 25:12-18).
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, the servant Hagar embodies the old covenant with Moses, while Abraham’s wife Sarah symbolises the new covenant that has become possible through Christ.

The name Hagar is derived from the Hebrew and Arabic word for “foreign” and “fugitive”. Perhaps Hagar received this name when she entered the service of Abraham and Sarah.
Besides being mentioned in the story in the book of Genesis, Hagar is also mentioned in the Old Testament in 1 Chronicles 27:31 and Psalm 83:6.

In Genesis 15, God promises Abraham many descendants. Abraham’s wife Sarah is however, too old to have children. Therefore, she gives her Egyptian servant to Abraham as a concubine. If a child is born of this relationship, according to ancient Middle Eastern law, it would be regarded as the child of Abraham and Sarah.
Hagar does indeed become pregnant and gives birth to Ishmael (Genesis 16:15). But according to Genesis 17:15-21, God wants to carry on his covenant with Abraham with a son that Sarah herself will bear. Hagar’s son Ishmael becomes the forefather of the Arab nations with whom the Israelites have a tense relationship (Genesis 25:17-18; Psalm 83:6-7).

Genesis 16 and 21 tell us about Hagar’s controversial position in Abraham’s household. Hagar flees when she is pregnant because Sarah treats her badly. When she is fleeing, Hagar meets an angel. He sends her back to Sarah, but promises that she will have many descendants (Genesis 16:10).
After Isaac is born, Sarah wants Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. In the desert, Ishmael nearly dies of thirst, but God sends an angel to save him. Ishmael was not part of God’s covenant with Abraham, but he too becomes the forefather of a great nation (Genesis 21:18).

In Galatians 4:21-31, Paul interprets the story of Hagar and Sarah and their descendants in a symbolic way. Whoever does not believe in Jesus, is according to Paul, just as enslaved as the child of a servant. Whoever does believe in Jesus, can best be compared with the child of a freeborn woman.