This is a tough story. Hagar shows up in Genesis 16, but it's in a context where, as we talked about in the last couple episodes, Abraham and Sarah have been promised a child, an offspring, but they're old. Then there's a delay. And that's the problem. Sarah had an Egyptian slave named Hagar. So she said to Abraham, "The Lord has kept me from having children. Go sleep with my slave. Perhaps I can build a family through her." In Episode 3 of Character Study, journalist Jon Fortt and pastor David Tieche delve into Hagar's pain and hope, and explore how God's promise to her illuminates His character.

Sarah wants children but can't get pregnant. God promises to fix the situation – but isn't in a rush. Her husband has big dreams and a bigger calling, and she sometimes feels like an afterthought. In Episode 2 of Character Study, journalist Jon Fortt and pastor David Tieche explore the story of a woman dealing with extraordinary circumstances and massive disappointment – and what we can learn from the way God addresses her needs.