GENESIS CHAPTER SIXTEEN OVERVIEW
Overall what is happening in this chapter is Sarai gives Hagar her handmaid to Abram to have a child.
Thomas Coke (1801) – Genesis 16
Sarai, being barren, gives Hagar her handmaid to Abram: whom afterwards she treats hardly, having been despised by her. The angel of the Lord recalls Hagar, who had fled from her mistress, and foretells the birth of Ishmael. Ishmael is born.
Matthew Henry (1714) – Genesis 16
Hagar is the person mostly concerned in the story of this chapter, an obscure Egyptian woman, whose name and story we never should have heard of if Providence had not brought her into the family of Abram. Probably she was one of those maid-servants whom the king of Egypt, among other gifts, bestowed upon Abram (see Genesis 14:16). Concerning her, we have four things in this chapter:
I. Her marriage to Abram her master (Genesis 16:1-3).
II. Her misbehavior towards Sarai her mistress (Genesis 16:4-6).
III. Her discourse with an angel that met her in her flight (Genesis 16:7-14). IV. Her delivery of a son (Genesis 16:15-16).
Daniel D. Whedon (1889) – Genesis 16
It is sad to pass from such a sublime elevation as that into which we have seen Abram lifted in the last chapter, to the low moral plain in which he next appears before us. It would seem that the presence and force of the divine revelation and promise begat a burning expectation, which grew impatient at the long delay. This impatience shows itself in Sarai, and prompts her to resort to an unhallowed expedient in order to build her house. The polygamous conduct here recorded is not to be defended or even apologized for. It had its reason and occasion, but, like other immoralities in Abram’s life, is to be condemned as contrary to God’s order. The history of polygamy everywhere shows how the unholy practice breeds mischief, strife, bitterness, and sorrow. In this short chapter all these evils are seen to flow from a single instance of bigamy in one of its mildest forms. Polygamy has ever been practiced among the descendants of Ishmael, and has been to them a moral and physical curse, never more manifest than at the present time.
Thomas Constable (2012) – Genesis 16
Sarai and Abram tried to obtain the heir God had promised them by resorting to a culturally acceptable custom of their day even though it involved a failure to trust God. This fleshly act created serious complications for Abram and his household that included Hagar fleeing into the wilderness. Nevertheless God proved faithful to His promises and responded to Hagar's cries for help. He provided for her needs and promised her many descendants through Ishmael since he was Abram's son.
"The account of Sarah's plan to have a son has not only been connected with the list of nations in chapter 15, but also appears to have been intentionally shaped with reference to the account of The Fall in Genesis 3. Each of the main verbs and key expressions in Genesis 16:2-3 finds a parallel in Genesis 3."
Alluding to The Fall suggests the writer's disapproval of what Sarai did. He continued to focus increasing attention on the problem of an heir. Sarai had borne Abram no children (see Genesis 16:1). She therefore suggested a plan to obtain an heir from his own body (see Genesis 15:4). It looked as if everything would work out well until a conflict developed between Sarai and Hagar (see Genesis 16:4). This conflict grew into a major crisis when Hagar fled the family encampment pregnant with Abram's unborn child (see Genesis 16:6). Yahweh intervened again to resolve the crisis (see Genesis 16:7). He instructed Hagar to return to Sarai (see Genesis 16:9). Thus Hagar bore Ishmael in Abram's house, but later God revealed that he would not be the heir.
Tom Holladay (2012) – Genesis 16
Here is a simple outline for Chapter 16
1. Short-Cut Faith
2. Short-Sighted Faith
3. Short-Term Faith
4. Short-Changed Faith
KEY VERSE
Genesis 16:1 “Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children. She had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.”
KEY EVENT
Abram has a son by Sarai’s handmaid Hagar.
KEY THOUGHT
The promise to Sarai and Abram is still in place, even though Sarai tried to take matters into her own hands.
KEY CONCEPT
God cares for all people no matter what their birth situation is. Ishmael is not the son of promise but he is still a son of Abram.
KEY INSIGHT
Angels have always been messengers involved in bringing about God’s purpose. (First mention of angels in the Bible is verse 7.)
KEY QUOTE
“Do not miss the practical lessons here: whenever we run ahead of God, there is trouble. The flesh loves to help God, but true faith is shown in patience (see Isaiah 28:16). We cannot mix faith and flesh, law and grace, promise and self-effort.” Warren W. Wiersbe
