The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 299

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 7.- Wells in the wilderness. 1. God provides them for the rest and refresh- ment of pilgrims. 2. -God visits them to meet with weary and affiictcd pilgrims. 3. God dispenses from them life and hope to all repenting and believing pilgrims. Compare with the angel of Jehovah and Hagar at the fountain of Shur, Christ and the woman of Samaria nt Jacob's well (John iv. 6).-W. Vera. 7-13.-Glimpses of the Godhead. 1. Divine condescension. God visits men as the angel visited Hagar. 2. Divine omniscience. God knows men as the angel knew Hagar. 3. Divine compassion. God pities and comforts men all the ang·el did Hagar. 4. Divine wisdom. God instructs men as the angel directed Hagar. 5. Divine grace. God pardons and accepts men as the m1gel did Hagar.-W. Ver. 8.-God pleading with wanderers. "Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence earnest_ thou? and whither wilt thou go?" . She knew not, cared not. Undisciplined smarting under effects of her own wilfulness (vcr. 4), she thought only of escaping pain-a type of those weary, yet unconverted (cf. Jer. ii. 13; v. 3). But God saw her. The Shepherd sought her (cf. Gen. iii. 9; Luke xv. 9). Though not of the chosen race, and having no claim upon his care, of his own mercy be calls her (cf. Ps. cxlv. 9; Ephes. ii. 4; TitUB iii. 5). The angel of the Lord; in ,er. 13 culled the Lord; the messenger of the covenant (Mai. iii. 1)-sent to carry out the lt'uther's purpose (cf. John iii. 17; Luke iv. 18). The same who speaks in the voice of awakened conscience, thnt he may give peace (cf. Matt. xi. 28). "Hagar, Sarai's mnid," expresses God's full knowledge of her (cf. Exod. xxx.ili. 12; John x. 3). The name distinguishes the individual. She n stranger, n slave, n fugitive ; yet God's eye upon her; nil her life before him ( cf. Ps. cxxxix. 1-4). A word for those following theit- own ways, feeling as if hidden in the multitude. Nothing glaring in their lives; men see nothing to find fault with ; will God? ( cf. Ps. xciv. 7). He knows thee altogether; thy whole life, the selfishness underlying a fair profession, the unconfessed motives, the little duplicities, the love of worldly things; or it may be thy spiritual pride and self-trusting. He sees thee through. But wilt thou seek to escape the thought of liim? For what does he search thee out? Is it not to bring thee to peace? A word of comfort to him who is cast down because o.f weak- ness in faith, little progress, want of spirituality. Ho sees all (cf. Luke xiL 5). Not ns man-men see the failures; God sees the battle, the longing desire for better things, the prayers (Pa. xxviii. 1; c:xxx. 1), the searching of heart, the sorrow because of failure. Even in the wilderness he is present to help (Gnl. vi. 9). I. "WHENCE CAMEST THOU ? " Is the wilderness better thnn the home thou hast loft? ( cf. Isa. v, 4). Thou hast left s1ifety and plenty ( cf. N nm. xxi. 5), impatient of God's discipline A goodly possession was thine-the plare of a child (1 John  THE DOOK OJ<' GENESIS. [en. XVII. 1-14.