Discovering Genesis, Part 15 (The Tale of Two Families, Part 1)
Genesis 16:1-16
Introduction
- This morning, we saw the response of Abram to God in a two part phase
- (v6) The Bible tells us 1) Abram believed then, 2) God credited righteousness
- It is something that we have to see: God is already all there ever needs to be
- Abram had to come to the realization of this and THEN God rewarded Him
- This evening, we are going to look at the beginning of the mess we have today
- This is not the beginning of the mess of sin; or even of rebellion
- This evening we begin to examine the beginning of the split in religions
- If you were looking for a title to this message; “The Tale of Two Families”
- This is better than any soap opera that could be written today
- It is a tale of how the split of what is now:
-- 1) Judaism (which produced Judeo Christians)
-- 2) Islam
- I want to state for the record that Islam in itself is not something to be hated
- It is a cult-like following which is misunderstood at best; demonic at worst
- However, I say this with all sincerity so you know where I stand
- It is NOT the place of a believer to cast out those of the Islam faith
- It is NOT our role in life to speak out and to outcast those involved in this faith
- However, it is our place to understand that this religion is NOT of God
- It was born out of sin; and its eternal destination is hell; and thus they need Jesus
- It really is that honest: If we aren’t ready to show those in this faith Christ
- The conclusion is simple: We aren’t really saved nor are we Christ followers
- This is true life, rubber meeting the road of Christian faith
- We will talk some more about this next Sunday morning; this is just the intro
- Go with me to Genesis, Chapter 21; flip back to Genesis 16
- Read Genesis 16:1-16
- Pray
Point 1 – Sarai gives Hagar to Abram (1-3)
- This is probably one of the most shocking stories in the OT regarding marriage
- There is a rebellion here that is just insane; esp when consider the implications
- We believe in God, but we’d rather not wait on Him so let’s solve it ourselves
- It is a position that often gets us into lots of trouble with the Lord
- In essence, unbelief took over and human emotions replaced faith
- This really is something we need to pay attention to in our lives today
- In every relation and situation in life there is some cross for us to bear
- Simply stated: Fleshly wisdom puts us out of God's will
Point 2 – Hagar's misbehavior to Sarai (4-6)
- What is interesting here is the Sarai is the one who gives Hagar to Abram
- And yet, Sarai is now mad and angry at her for the actions she did (v5)
- It is one of the most relevant implications that we have today
- Think of it: Sarai is 100% in the wrong, and SHE is complaining to God
- It is out of her own guilt that this is happening; much like we do today
- We feel that we are getting a bad deal, b/c of our decisions, and we gripe
- Hagar forgot that she herself had first given the provocation, by despising her
- APP: Those that suffer for their faults, need to bear it with some Grace
-- 1 Peter 2:20, “But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.”
Point 3 – The Angel commands Hagar to return; the promise to her Birth of Ishmael (7-16)
- Hagar was away from home; and wandering totally; and an Angel found her
- There is a lot of mercy to be stopped by God from continuing down a sinful road
- The Lord’s guidance to us is ALWAYS going to be to submit to those over us
- But, here we see it about to get very interesting and affecting history forever
- V9-10: Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”
- Hagar’s arrogance is complicating this situation
-- (10) God promised Hagar that He would multiply her seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
- (11) The angel told her that she would bear a son
-- She was to name him “Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.”
-- The name Ishmael literally means, „God will hear.‟
-- God had heard and intervened to help Hagar.
-- Ishmael indeed would become a great people.
-- The Arabic peoples to this day are descended from the seed of Ishmael.
- (12) The angel went on to prophesy that Ishmael would 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.”
-- The word translated as wild (arp pereh) literally means “wild animal”
-- Ishmael evidently would grow up as an unruly, stubborn man.
-- The reference to his hand being against every man and every man against him
-- The Arabic nations down through the centuries have been a warring people since
- (15-16) Hagar returned to Abram’s place, bore her son, and named him Ishmael.
-- Abram was 86 years old when Ishmael was born. (Recall how that Abram was 75 years old when God first promised him a son in Genesis 12:1 -- Thus, eleven years had passed.
-- After waiting for about ten years, Sarai and Abram took events into their own hands in the matter of Hagar.
-- That decision of the will of the flesh would haunt them and their descendants from that day to the present hour.
Conclusion
- This begins the war between these families
- Anything born out of jealousy and resentment cannot produce God’s will
- How we live our lives says the very same thing; what is resentment doing to you?
- Pray
