She made her way to the desert, and as she rested beside a fountain, lonely and friendless, an angel of the Lord, in human form, appeared to her. Addressing her as "Hagar, Sarai's maid," to remind her of her position and her duty, he bade her, "Return 146 to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands." Yet with the reproof there were mingled words of comfort. "The Lord hath heard thy affliction." "I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude." And as a perpetual reminder of His mercy, she was bidden to call her child Ishmael, "God shall hear."

Hagar begav sig ud i ørkenen, og mens hun hvilede sig ved en kilde, ensom og venneløs, viste en Herrens engel sig for hende i menneskelig skikkelse. Han tiltalte hende som "Hagar, Sarajs trælkvinde" for at minde hende om hendes stilling og pligt og bød hende: "Vend tilbage til din herskerinde og find dig i hendes mishandling!" Men der fulgte dog trøstens ord med irettesættelsen. "Jeg vil gøre dit afkom så talrigt, at det ikke kan tælles." Og som en stadig påmindelse om Guds barmhjertighed fik hun besked på at kalde sit barn Ismael, der betyder "Gud hører".