Hashgachah Pratis in the Sefarim Hakedoshim
To Fully Believe
Avraham Avinu sent Hagar away, putting Yishmael, some bread, and a jug of water on her shoulder. As Hagar wandered in the desert, Yishmael, ill and thirsty, drank all the water in her jug. After the jug was empty, she sent her son away so as not to witness his imminent death, and she started crying. A malach informed her that Hashem had heard the sounds of her cries, and he commanded her to “get up and carry the youngster”; but she did not believe and therefore did not do what he said until “Hashem opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.”
Rabi Binyamin said: All are in the realm of the blind. Their eyes cannot see anything other than whatever they have permission from on High to see – even something that is right in front of them. We learn this from here: “Hashem opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.” The well had not been created just at that moment; rather, it was always there, but she had no permission to see it until Hashem opened her eyes.
Even once she saw the well, she still would not carry out the malach’s command to “get up and carry the youngster.” Instead, she went to the well and filled her jug, then went over to her son to start giving him water to drink, because she did not trust in Hashem; she was afraid that by the time she’d come to the well with her son, the well would disappear and he would die of thirst. That is why it says that Hagar was one of those who are lacking in emunah.
(Bereishis Rabbah 53:15)
