Bereishit Ch. 16

Chapter 16 tells the story of Sarah, Hagar, and the birth of Ishmael—a narrative filled with moral tension and ambiguity. Sarah afflicts Hagar, who flees into the wilderness, where an angel finds her. There, Hagar undergoes a profound transformation: from silent servant to a woman who receives divine promises, names her son Yishmael (“God hears”), and even gives God a new name, El Ro’i (“the God who sees me”). Hagar’s journey highlights God’s attentiveness to the afflicted and the emergence of human dignity from the margins.