The angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said,
Genesis 16:7–8Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? And whither wilt thou go?
Words: Florence S. Smith, in The International Lesson Hymnal (Chicago, Illinois: David C. Cook, 1878), number 7.
Music: Madeira David B. Way, 1879 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Smith or Way (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
As Hagar in the desert,
Thrust forth by blows and strife,
Sat lonely by the well side,
Aweary of her life,
There came the angel message,
Arise and homeward fare
;
For, though the wild seemed empty,
The mighty God was there.
When secret sins beset me,
And temptings snare my feet,
Till hid from human vision
I think their fruits are sweet;
Thy presence hovers o’er me,
I cannot hide or flee—
O thought how dread and awful,
That Thou, God, seest me.
When turned from paths of evil,
I dare not seek Thy face,
But kneel in deep abasement
Before the throne of grace;
When only tears are telling
The prayers I bring to Thee,
O thought how sweet and tender,
That Thou, God, seest me.
When, lost in life’s great desert,
Worn out by sin and strife,
I sit beside the fountain
Where springs the stream of life,
Send Thou the angel message;
Let my one comfort be,
Still, still, where’er I wander,
That Thou, God, seest me.