Read Genesis 16 here or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph:
Gen 16:1-16 {s} Abram’s faith in the promise tested (Hagar and Ishmael)
We know that Abram was 75 years old when he entered Canaan, and Sarai was 10 years his junior. At the opening of this chapter, he had been in Canaan 10 years, making Sarai 75 years old. I believe that at this juncture it ceased being the way of women with her, and she ceased believing that she would be the mother of the Promised Seed. So, she proposed Abram’s child should come through her maid, Hagar. While this might be scandalous to us, it was a common practice in that time and place.
Hagar had an encounter with the Angel of YHVH in the wilderness, who appears to her. This Angel, who is mentioned in many places in the Old Testament, is not an ordinary class of angel, but a pre-incarnate appearance of Messiah Yeshua. When He is addressed as God or named as God, as in this passage, and elsewhere in Scripture, He does not deny it.
And the angel of YHVH found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. … And she called the name of YHVH who spoke to her, “You are God who sees me,” for she said, “Have I also here looked upon Him who sees me?” Gen 16:7, 13
This is unlike angels elsewhere in Scripture who do deny it.
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, “See that you do it not; I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Yeshua. Worship God, for the testimony of Yeshua is the spirit of prophecy.” Rev 19:10
Hagar marvels that she has physically seen the One who has seen her, and lived (vs. 13). But this is a characteristic attributed to Messiah Yeshua.
No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. Joh 1:18
The message of the Angel of YHVH, then, is not only, God sees me, but God hears me and understands the trials I am going through, by implication.
And the angel of YHVH said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael; because YHVH has heard your affliction.” Gen 16:11
“Ishmael” means, “God will hear.” This empathy is a characteristic of Messiah Yeshua as the express image of God’s person.
Therefore in all things it was necessary for Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to help them who are tempted. Heb 2:17-18
Who, being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Heb 1:3
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Finding Messiah in Torah – Christine Miller
Theophanies in the Old Testament – Answers in Genesis
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