Genesis 16

agar is an unfortunate character in scripture. She was dragged into a crazy hare-brained scheme by Sarai only to be treated badly by her when she was (supposedly) uppity, perhaps without any basis in reality. Maybe this perception was only a result of Sarai's internal self-doubt because of her infertility.

When God visits Hagar to reassure her of his care for her and her offspring, she says something interesting that is repeated over and over again in Scripture, but this is the first time it is expressed, in the mouth of a Gentile, one who is ignorant of God and His ways at least in the eyes of the ancient Jews: She declares it is wonderful that she has seen God and yet has not died. Mankind deserves to die and is unworthy to be in the presence of God. In the presence of the most Holy God, man in his sin and imperfection cannot survive.

This sense of unworthiness, present in other cultures as well as Judaism and Christianity is universal. It is the law of God written on the human heart described by St. Paul in the first chapter of Romans. But God always seeks to help mankind and to bless, as he helps poor Hagar in her distress.