Note: When doing a study on a book in the Bible you use a lot of resources. The major influence for me on this study of Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris.
As we come to Chapter 16 it is amazing how the tides change. Abram went from perfect in God's eyes to now tring to fulfill God's promises his way.
Genesis 16
1. Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an
handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name [was] Hagar.
Let us notice one thing about this handmaid she was an Egyptian hand maid. What is Egypt the symbol of? The world. All Egypt was a symbol of this. Now we will see why it was a mistake for Abram to carry her along.
2 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.
3 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.
4. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she
saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her
eyes.
This is a sin that is recorded in the Bible. As I have said before the Bible records the highs and lows of the great men of God. This was a low point. God did not approve of this. This was a common pratice during this time. Custom wise there was nothing wrong but God intened for man to have one wife not many and we see it causes problems.
I believed that Hagar may have tried to rub it in to her master. First she was a lowly old servant one who worked for Sarai. Now she was in her mind above her master. She was the one who was fertile and not barren. She was the one to bare Abram a child and Sari despised her for this.
I believe that sin always has consequences. When you try to do it your way instead of God's way then there is sinful consequences. Let us see the consequence
5 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.
Now we see that Sarai repents. She feels guilty for what she has done. She has not trusted God. But now she realizes this. She tells Abram that he must do something about this girl. This dis respectful servant.
6 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.
I believe what we see here mainly is jealously between two ladies. The problem was that Sarai was the master. Now custom would not allow for a servant to be run off after she was pregnant. It was wrong and they both knew this. So Sarai decied to shun her. This would get rid of her. Now we see that it worked
7. And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in
the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
So we see that she leaves. Now this would seem to have solved all the problems but God would not have it this way. No way. Even though it was done in sin and a child is born God still has respect for life. He would not allow for this child to die in the wilderness on the way to Egypt he makes an interceeding
8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and
whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my
mistress Sarai.
9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy
mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
So he tells her to turn away and go back. It must not end this way God has another plan for Ishmael.
10. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy
seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
Read 21:13 This is why God took care of Abram's son Ismael
Genesis 21:13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation,
because he [is] thy seed.
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou [art]
with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name
Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every
man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the
presence of all his brethren.
Here is the description of Ismael:
a)a wild man Genesis 21:20
Genesis 21:20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the
wilderness, and became an archer.
b)unruly and not for discipline this happened as soon as Issacc was born he had to leave the camp
c)hated by his fellow men
d)but stayed close to his family Genesi 25:18
Genesis 25:18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that [is] before
Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: [and] he died in the
presence of all his brethren.
As we will see in later chapters this is what happened
13 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?
Hagar is amazed that a God would see and talk to here. Her conception of God from Egypt was some great being all wrapped up in himself. Not caring about humans except as toys. But now she sees that this is the real God and he has given her attention. Small and measley ole her and she is amazed.
14 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, [it is]
between Kadesh and Bered.
15. And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name,
which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
16 And Abram [was] fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare
Ishmael to Abram.
Finally we see in Abrams 86th year he had a son and he was called Ismael. Even though it was in sin it was still the son of Abram.
Now what can we learn from this what is our lessons?
1. We need to wait on the Lord?
Isaiah 40:31-AV But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew
[their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they
shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not
faint.
2. Man's ways are not always God's ways.
Isaiah 55:8-AV For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither
[are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 55:9-AV For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so
are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts.
Psalms 145:17-AV The LORD [is] righteous in all his ways, and
holy in all his works.
3. God will fulfill his promises even if man has sinned.
