“If the Army wants you to have a wife then they will issue you one.”

I’ve heard this joke more than once and the more I hear it the more it sounds like fact. The Army is not kind to marriages. It’s hard. I have seen this lifestyle break far more homes then I have seen it strengthen. As much as we would like to be, the Army Wife is not the number one priority for a soldier. She cannot be. His mind has to be in the mission, especially during deployments.

Sarai and Hagar

In Genesis 16 we come across two women, Sarai and Hagar. Sarai is Abraham’s wife and Hagar is her maid servant. When Sarai could not conceive children she “issued” her husband a second wife, Hagar. Hagar appears to have instantly become pregnant and gained the contempt of Sarai. Suddenly Abraham’s attention is diverted from that of Sarai to his new bride and child. But Sarai in her jealousy drives a wedge between Abraham and Hagar and demands that the woman and child be banished. And Abraham follows orders.

I have occasionally felt like Hagar, the other wife. My husband has no choice but to jump when called despite what we might be in the middle of or the obligations of home. Deployment rips him from our home and drives a wedge between him, myself and the children. But it is unavoidable.

What I love most about the story of Hagar is that God did not leave her abandoned in the wilderness. He met with her.

A God of Seeing!

The Lord spoke to Hagar and He blessed her. He promised her and her unborn child life and she named the Lord “You are a God of seeing.” He looked down and He saw her at her most desperate and He did not forget her but looked after her and cared for her.

A God of seeing! He sees us. When we feel overlooked and neglected God still sees us! He hasn’t forgotten us and He will not abandon us in our hour of need. How comforting to know that we are loved!

Check out more from this series of Women of the Bible at BibleGuy.org