Welcome to Genesis 16, a chapter with 16 verses. Here we see tension in Abram’s family. A harmonious family life is one of life’s greatest joys. A home filled with strife is one of life’s greatest stressors. To review this chapter, we will divide it into two major segments and then treat each segment.
- The shortcut that lands in trouble (v. 1–6)
- The show-up that leads to trust (v. 7–16)
Let’s move on…
1. THE SHORTCUT THAT LANDS IN TROUBLE
God had promised Abram and Sarai “many children” but there was none yet! Hmmmmn… So, they opted for a shortcut — one that landed them in trouble. There are three actors here: Abram, Sarai, and Hagar (the extra “baggage” from Egypt). Let us check out their roles.
A. Abram’s Double Mind
Genesis 16:1-4 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
You will notice:
- The Problem: “Sarai had no children…”
- The Proposal: “Sleep with my maid…”
- The Price: “Sarai became an object of mockery…”
Hmmmmn…
What a price to pay for taking a shortcut! Permit me to zoom in a little bit on a part of Sarai’s proposal.
Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing…
Hmmmmn…
This sounds exactly like unbelief would sound. She accused God of unkindness. She blamed God for her barrenness. Unbelief is a sin, but it is also a sickness, one that carries a lot of pain. There was a lot of pain in Sarai’s words:
- The pain of deferred hope (Prov. 13:12)
- The pain of unanswered prayers
- The pain of monthly flow
- The pain of public shame
- The pain of blaming God for one’s problems
Not to criticize Abram, but there’s no mention of our “altar-rearing” Abram praying to God on this matter. He also probably forgot the covenant God made. He was really so vulnerable that he didn’t remember his Lord at that time.
Let’s move on to our second actor: Sarai.
B. Sarai’s Deceitful Heart
Genesis 16:5-6 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee. But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
With her untamed tongue, Sarai blamed Abram for the troubling situation at hand. Was it possible that Abram showed great affection to Hagar? The text doesn’t say so, but we can’t overrule that.
With her untamed temper, Sarai treated Hagar so harshly to the extent that Hagar ran for her life.
Sarai exhibited jealousy and anger, sparking strife and conflict. So much walking in the flesh by Sarai and her husband. See how James described the windstorm in Abram’s home:
James 4:1-2 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You desire (A CHILD) and do not have; so you commit murder (HATE HAGAR). You are envious and cannot obtain (NO CHILD); so you fight and quarrel.
C. Hagar’s Defiant Heart
Hagar was a slave who wanted to take the wheels from the “madam of the house”. What effrontery! Let me imagine her actions using today’s examples. She probably began to dictate the family diet. She probably demanded more time and attention from Abram. She probably craved for shawarma in the middle of the night, and Abram left Sarai, in the middle of their sweet romantic moment, to attend to her. She probably snatched the TV remote from Sarai’s hands, switched the channel from Zee World to Channels to watch “Abiyamo On Air” programme. She probably got more attention from other slave girls, at the expense of Sarai. These are imaginations, granted. But she definitely did things to intentionally mock, provoke, and destabilize Sarai in her own home!
2. THE SHOW-UP THAT LEADS TO TRUST
Abused by her mistress, Hagar ran away into the wilderness. But God ran after her. God saw her. God guided her. God promised a future for her son. Let’s observe:
A. The Revelation to Hagar
The Angel of the Lord found her! Hallelujah! Who is this Angel? Learn more about him in this teaching by Pastor Dammy.
Note that this revelation to Hagar is a:
- Revelation of Graciousness: for she was found! Oh, amazing grace! (v. 7-8)
- Revelation of Gentleness: for she was instructed to submit herself to Sarai! (v. 9)
- Revelation of Greatness: for her son shall be great! (v. 10–12)
B. The Response of Hagar
Hagar’s response was one of faith. Hmmmmmn… We notice:
- Hagar’s VERBAL Expression of Faith
Genesis 16:13-14 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
She called God “the God that sees me”! Oh, what a sweet encounter…!
- Hagar’s VITAL Expression of Faith
Genesis 16:15-16 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
She went back to her mistress. She believed she could trust God in spite of her circumstances. She concluded that God’s goodness outweighed Sarah’s badness. She knew that if God had called her, he could take care of her.
Dear Gogolights, always remember that our God is:
- The God of Strength — Elohim
- The God of Sovereignty — Jehovah
- The God of Superiority — Adonai
- The God of Sufficiency — El Shaddai
- The God of Supremacy — El Elyon
- The God of Stability — El Olam
- The God of Sympathy — El Roi
And He is our “ABBA FATHER”!
Let us trust in Him at all times, as He makes us lie down in green pastures, leads us beside the still waters, restores our soul, and leads us to the path of righteousness for His name’s sake…
Grace to you, Church!
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