Gen 16:11-12, 11 And the angel of the LORD said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael because the LORD has listened to your affliction.“ 12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man, …”
The desert experience of scorching sun, fatigue, lack of food and water posed a threat of miscarriage to Hagar. In our time, the Dr. would have prescribed bed rest for the sake of the development of the baby in the womb. Hagar did not have that. What she lacked she would receive by assurance, the Lord heard her cry and responded. He assured her of the baby’s safety and delivery despite the threats. She gave him the name Ishmael given by God which means “God hears”. Furthermore, the Lord assured her that despite the child’s hardship from pregnancy, and later being thrown out as a teenager with his mother, and with no inheritance, no father figure, or covering, he will still be a great man as God had great plans for him.
This is a great comfort especially to single mothers, they are under the care of the divine providence. God graciously considers their cases and will be with them in every stage, what a blessed assurance.