MajemuOluwa Central Parish Modakeke

Hagar, A Woman Seen by God

In the quiet spaces of Scripture, where names are often overlooked and voices unheard, Hagar’s story quietly unfolds.

She was an Egyptian servant in Abraham’s household, far from home, far from power, far from choice. Life happened to her more than it happened with her. Decisions were made above her, around her, without her consent. Used for a purpose not her own, dismissed when she became inconvenient, Hagar found herself doing what many forgotten souls do walking away with nothing but pain, fear, and unanswered questions.

She walked into the wilderness carrying more than hunger and exhaustion. She carried rejection. She carried silence. She carried the ache of being unseen.

And yet, it was there, in the dry heat of abandonment, when no human voice spoke her name, that God came looking for her.

Not Abraham. Not Sarah. But God.

The Lord met Hagar where she was alone, weary, and desperate. He did not ignore her tears or rush past her suffering. He saw her affliction. He spoke to her personally. He called her by name. And in that sacred encounter, something remarkable happened.

Hagar did what no one before her had done.
She named God.

With trembling faith and awakened hope, she called Him El Roi, “The God who sees me.” In a world that had overlooked her, God had not. In a life where she felt invisible, God had been watching all along.

“You are the God who sees me.”
— Genesis 16:13 📖

Being seen by God changed everything.
Hagar’s journey did not suddenly become easy. The wilderness did not disappear. Pain did not instantly vanish. But she walked forward differently, knowing she was known, valued, and remembered. She carried this truth with her: even when the world forgets, God does not.

Later, when Hagar and her son Ishmael faced the wilderness again, this time closer to death than hope, God once more heard her cry. He opened her eyes to provision, reminded her of His promise, and proved again that His mercy reaches the margins.

Hagar’s life proclaims a truth that still speaks today: to be seen by God is to be sustained by His presence.

Reflection ✨

The God Who Still Sees

Hagar reminds us that God sees those the world overlooks.

Whatever hardship, sorrow, or hidden pain you carry today, no matter how heavy it feels, do not be afraid. God sees you. He is with you. He waits patiently, not with judgment, but with love. When you call upon Him, He listens, not only today, but every day. Through prayer, strength quietly grows. Problems may still come, but you will not walk alone.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
— Matthew 11:28 📖

To live like Hagar is to trust that God meets us in the wilderness. When there is no one else to lean on, lean on Him. He is near to the brokenhearted and gentle with wounded souls.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he saves those whose spirit is crushed.”
— Psalm 34:19 📖

God still speaks promises to those pushed to the margins. No life is invisible to Him. No pain is wasted. His plans reach beyond rejection and into hope.

“For I know the plans I have for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe.”
— Jeremiah 29:11 📖

A Hagar woman is seen, heard, and sustained by the God who never looks away. Even in silence. Even in exile. Even in tears.

“You yourself have recorded my wanderings; put my tears into your bottle.”
— Psalm 56:9 📖

The Queen of Lust

How She Tries to Enslave Us

Scripture: Revelation 17: “Babylon the Great… drunk on the blood of the saints”

1️⃣ Who Is the Queen of Lust Today?

She is not a single person.

She is a system:

A culture that promotes immorality
A mindset that glorifies pleasure without God
An economy and industry that profits from lust
Digital environments that constantly tempt you.

A spiritual deception that enslaves hearts
In Scripture, she is called:

“Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots”
~(Rev 17:5) 📖

Meaning: She gives birth to many sins, not just one.

2️⃣ How She Enslaves Humanity Today

The queen of lust works in subtle but powerful ways:

♦️A. She Seduces Before She Destroys

“She was wearing purple and scarlet… adorned with gold” (Rev 17:4) 📖

Lust often looks attractive and harmless at first
Modern examples:

🔸Pornography and hyper-sexualized content
🔸Social media that glorifies lust
🔸Entertainment that normalizes impurity
🔸The false idea that ma********on is just “self-care”

⚠️ Sin always looks fun at first, but it slowly enslaves.

♦️B. She Intoxicates the Nations

“The inhabitants of the earth became drunk on the wine of her harlotry” (Rev 17:2) 📖

Lust is always available
Screens never sleep, social media constantly tempts

Like alcohol, it clouds judgment:
🔸Desensitized conscience
🔸Loss of shame
🔸Weakness in resisting temptation

♦️C. She Rides the Beast (Power & Technology)

“I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast”
~(Rev 17:3) 📖

The beast is today’s technology and media:

Algorithms and platforms that grab attention
Industries that profit from desire

Lust is weaponized to control:

🔸Your focus
🔸Your decisions
🔸Your identity

♦️D. She Drains Spiritual Life

“She was drunk on the blood of the holy ones” (Rev 17:6) 📖

Lust attacks more than bodies, it attacks holiness:

🔸Weakens prayer and devotion
🔸Silences conscience
🔸Kills zeal for God
🔸Harms marriages, vocations, and youth

♦️E. She Promises Freedom but Produces Slavery

“Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34) 📖

Lies we hear today:

🔸“It’s natural”
🔸“Everyone does it”
🔸“It’s harmless”

Truth: Lust never satisfies. It always demands more.

♦️F. She Will Ultimately Be Destroyed

“The beast will hate the harlot… and consume her with fire” (Rev 17:16) 📖

Lust culture may seem powerful, but it destroys itself

Effects already visible:

🔸Broken families
🔸Mental health struggles
🔸Loneliness and confusion
🔸Loss of purpose

3️⃣ Christ Still Wins

“They will fight with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them.” (Rev 17:14) 📖

No matter how strong lust culture seems:

🔸Christ reigns
🔸Purity is possible
🔸Grace is stronger than addiction

4️⃣ How Believers Can Resist the Queen of Lust

Spiritual victory is possible with God’s help:

🔸Prayer daily – Morning, evening, and during temptation
🔸Confession – Bring sins to God; don’t hide them
🔸Eucharist & Fasting – Strengthen body and soul
🔸Custody of the eyes – Avoid triggers and harmful media
🔸Community – Share struggles; accountability matters
🔸Renew the mind – Focus on God’s truth (Romans 12:2) 📖
🔸“Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) 📖

5️⃣ Key Takeaway

The queen of lust wants your:

🔸Attention
🔸Desire
🔸Freedom

But you don’t have to be a slave to sin.
Choose Christ.

He heals, restores, and gives true joy. ✝️

✅ Youth Tip:

Make a “daily armor” checklist:

🔸Morning prayer & evening prayer
🔸Avoid harmful media
🔸Accountability buddy check-in
🔸Evening reflection / confession
🔸1 small act of self-discipline (like fasting from social media or food)

This makes resisting lust practical, consistent, and empowering.

When you pass throught the waters, I will be with you

Isaiah 43:2

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it

Psalms 127:1