Finding Water
This is an image of a modern-day desert well. After locating water underground, they drilled into the earth setting up pipe and installing a hand pump. Fresh water is now available to desert travelers. But this well is small and physically hard to spot. In ancient times, a thirsty woman could easily miss it.
Hagar’s Second Desert Journey
The first time Hagar fled into the wilderness, she was pregnant (Genesis 16). As she rested by a desert spring, an angel spoke to her, telling her to return to her mistress. Months later, she gave birth to Abraham’s son. For the next 13 years, Ismael was his heir. Until his wife became pregnant and also gave birth to a boy.
After Sarah’s son Isaac was born, Hagar and her son Ismael were sent away. They wondered in the desert until all their water ran out. Despairing of life, Hagar and her son cried helplessly.
Until God’s angel spoke to her once more. Then God opened her eyes and Hagar suddenly noticed a nearby well.
14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.
15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.
17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there…
19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. (Genesis 21:14-17,19 NIV)
The well was there. But Hagar couldn’t see it because of her tears.
Looking for Water in the Desert
An oasis can often be spotted from miles away. Just look for patches of green amid all the desert sand. But spotting a single well? That’s much harder.
Especially if there’s only a small hand pump above ground.
Without modern technology, a thirsty traveler would have to know a well was there and be physically close enough to see it.
Wells with Hand Pumps
Many people have never pumped for water. Back 100 years ago, these type of wells were more common here in the United States. The well maker drills down to a maximum depth of 22 feet. Any deeper with an old-fashioned hand pump and the underground water won’t ever reach the surface.
Pumping the handle up and down creates suction in the pipe. The underground water starts being drawn upwards, because a vacuum is created. But it can take a lot of pumping. 
As a youngster during a family vacation, we came across an old-fashioned well, powered by muscle. My dad set me to work pumping, but for the first 2 or 3 minutes nothing happened. I began to get frustrated and wanted to quit.
“Dad, this stupid pump is broken!”
But my father encouraged me to keep pumping. Soon it became much harder to move the handle up and down. I didn’t know it, but that was a good sign.
Almost immediately water gushed out and other people could fill their buckets easily after we were done.
God’s Tender Care:
Earlier I said,
The well was there. Hagar just couldn’t see it because of her tears.
Think about this; when Hagar and Ismael reluctantly walked into the desert, they quickly became lost. Despite her best efforts, Hagar failed to find the spring of water she’d rested beside 14 years earlier. Eventually Hagar panicked, certain she and her son would die of thirst.
Yet God guided her wandering steps.
She didn’t hear the Holy Spirit; no angel give her any directions. No gentle, whispered nudges “Okay, turn left at that small rock formation.” Yet she walked exactly where God decreed. When He opened her eyes, Hagar immediately saw a source of water close at hand.
In Hagar’s case, God’s word was 100% true.
A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9 RSV)
God provided for Hagar, and God will provide for you.
These images came from Pixabay.com.
Resources:
This article gave me my understanding of how old-fashioned, hand-pumped wells work. There’s now a more technological version which can supply water from 300 feet (91.44 meters) deep.
