Genesis 16
1. The attempt to accomplish God’s plan by worldly method.
i. Problem continues – even after covenant, nothing has changed. Less hope for old couple.
“Abram’s wife, Sarai, had not borne any children for him” Gen 16:1a
ii. Human solution- plan B – to help God to accomplish his promises, they come up with a plan. It was a custom of their time, in cases where wife could not give birth she could have a slave to be a surrogate mother. Archeologists have found some documents stating that. Sarai tired of waiting and she comes up with plan. If God doesn’t want her to be pregnant, and he wants Abram to have a child it surely be use of human custom. Not every human custom is godly. We always have to check if it is alines with God’s will. She wanted her slave to give her a child. But it is unfaithfulness in gods eyes. Questions arise is it biblical to have suragate mom without sextuplets intercourses? If God doesn’t give a child to a couple? But Sarai wanted to have a child, she wanted her slave to sleep with her husband, get pregnant and give her that child. It was a human sinful calculation
“Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said.” Gen 16:2
iii. Plan B goes south . Problem, bigger problem,
What do you know one intercourse and she is pregnant, Sarai tried for 50 years. Hagar, who until was serving and obedient began to despise her mistress. The word used here is the same in Gods promise ‘ whoever blesses you will be blessed, but whoever curses you will be cursed’ Hagar began to have this cursing attitude because of her new status. Sarai who thought that her plan would go smoothly now blames her husband and her slave. Abram doesn’t do anything but gives Sarai full permission to do with Hagar what she pleases. And wash at was Sarai response to the Hagars disrespect and despise, was mistreated, abused her. Word is the same meaning as described how egiptians abused Israelites when they were slaves. As a result Hagar ran away, to Egypt. Sarai’s plan has failed, no child would be given to her, conflict with her husband, she lost her slave and there was no chance now to have a baby. Situation is worst then it was before.
Lessons to learn: this story reminds us story of Adam and Eve, ““So Abram’s wife, Sarai, took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband, Abram, as a wife for him” she gave her and he took… faith should take them a different way. when person hurt he/she hurts / blames others…this is the case of abuse verbal, emotional maybe phisical where it is unbearable to live – runaway slave. Sarai instedad of be a blessing to others, became an abuser of Hagar, who began not to bless this special family but curse, was supposed to be cursed. Position of Abraham, passive, he listens to his wife ( it’s not that husband should not listen to his wife) but he accepts faithless plan and follows it, he is not taking charge in brining the resolution or giving guidelines how to relate to Sarai’s slave, he did not encouraging his household to adjust to the promises of God and trust in his wisdom, love and abilities, their responcibility is to wait. All three of them failed, none of them were seeking God’s will, none of them applied biblical principles in their decision making.
It is really important for us to think biblically, pray hard seeking guidance from other godly people when we make decisions. Questions like would this descision be in accord with Gods salvific plan for myself and for others. Changing job, purchasing something big,
“He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she saw that she was pregnant, her mistress became contemptible to her. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and when she saw that she was pregnant, I became contemptible to her. May the Lord judge between me and you.” Abram replied to Sarai, “Here, your slave is in your power; do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her.” Gen 16:4-6
2. Divine intervention, 2 Tim 2:13 “if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” Our Lord wants to teach this family to Trust Him and be faithful in their lifestyle to the promises. He wants Abram to be blessed, to follow His plan ( in Jer 17, blessed is the men who trusts in the Lord and cursed is the one who trusts in the flesh) , he wants to bless him when he trusts God, he wants him to be a blessing to his wife and his wife’s servant.
To achieve this God begins with Hagar. He finds her in the desert on the way to Egypt, by the well. He talkes to her and listens to her and later directs her, and blesses her because of Abram with her descendants.
i. Angel of the Lord listens to Hagar
“The angel of the Lord found her by a spring in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. He said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She replied, “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai.” Gen 16:7-8
He calls her by her name, until now we don’t hear her name, just her status, he reminds her of her status and circumstances. Lord of whole universe has time for a suffering servant.
ii. Promises and instructions. He wants her to act differently, instead of being proud and disrespectful, she was encouraged to submit, as a result Sarai’s response going to be more trusting and caring. Lord allowed her to keep her child. He reveals that it is going to be male named– Ishmael – God hears.
“The angel of the Lord said to her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her authority.” The angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, and they will be too many to count.” The angel of the Lord said to her, “You have conceived and will have a son. You will name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your cry of affliction. This man will be like a wild donkey. His hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand will be against him; he will settle near all his relatives.” Gen 16: 9-12
Name of her son is of great importance – by calling him that name every time they will remember that God sees and hears people. This Lords intervention build faith of Hagar, she have learned a great deal about his character. When she was alone, in distress, lost, broken with no direction or people who would care and love – she was met by this great merciful Lord, who listened, who was companionate, who empathized, as if he was in her shoes and understands this loneliness. This Angel of the Lord is believed to be our lord Jesus Christ who is able to empathize because he knows what it is to be a human, what it is to be mistreated. He has come to us when we were lost in our ways, when we messed up greatly and he offered His life, forgivness and new belonging. Even though we don’t many of those blessings here, but Hagar knew that this Lord is special, how he approached, how he understands and she responded in faith to do what he says.
3. Faithful response
i. Hagar responds in faith
“So she named the Lord who spoke to her: “You are El-roi,” for she said, “In this place, have I actually seen the one who sees me?” Gen 16:13
She responded in faith by naming Lord who sees me, she realized that she lives before the eyes of this God.
Moreover she went back to Abram’s family back to her mistress, and submitted to her. From that point we don’t hear any records of their conflict. She told everything to Abram..
ii. Abraham’s obedient compliance
“So Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son, and Abram named his son (whom Hagar bore) Ishmael.” Gen 16:15 its purposefully mentioned here that this son was not given to Sarai but was her own and Abram named him Ish ma – El, ( Lord has heard your cry of affliction) it was a reminder to Sarai that Lord sees and hears. It’s should be a great warning to us who think we can be abusive, angry, bitter, frustrated at others – Lord hears and sees. When we abuse our limited authority, when we speak of others with disrespect, when we gossip, when we liy when we do things that are sinful. He is that kind of God – he is involved. He also hears all the abuse and can empathize with the victims and guide them what to do either to return or to flee, depending on cituation.
He hears not only words but he hears emotions of our hearts, he knows everything and prevent everywhere. God sees distress and affliction and hears the cry for help. God knew that Sarai was barren, she knew that God knew she was barren, but she should have cried out to the Lord as Hannah. If you are in distress, in strong bondage of sin , god knows, you know that god knows, but you need to cry out in faith and believe that he hears and helps! When we have a need we need to pray, not to take cituation in our hands, only when we have clear answers then we act.
It is godly habbit to listen attentively, parents hear out your kids, husbands and wives listen to each other- it will prevent many conflicts. Proper communications, five rules – listen attentively
If He hears and sees – he wants us to tell him stuff, when it hurts, when we are not sure what to do, when we are exited, when we are tired, lonely, confused- he hears. That’s what Abram and Sarai were supposed to do – pray and reveal their deep feared, desires, frustrations, discouragement. Sarai had learned the hard way – from experience of despised slave who came back with faith experience and the word from God – Ishmael. Sarai didn’t cry out before the Lord but took human calculations. Hagar benefited from God’s provision instead of Sarai, she came to know more of God’s presence, then Sarai sis. The lord has sent her back to tense situations but He sent her with a message of Hope.
Stand before your God in need, receive blessings of his precence, grow in your faith, He is eager to listen and able to help He is a great listener. Only person who loves and cares will hear us out. That is his character. Let’s come to Him often and share with Him your hearts.
One more time God blesses Abraham, despite his and his wife’s faithlessness. God makes their family again a blessed family who have failed and learned their lesson to trust their Lord, they are now in this sphere of blessings, and they as well can be a blessing to the people around them , particularly to Hagar and Ishmael. This is only 11 years of all 25 that they would have to wait until promiss of the birth of son to them will happen. They will need a lot of peace and patience about it. But they had this massage from the Lord every time they would hear the name of the Ishmael – Lord hears. This message is applicable to all ages and all circumstances – God sees and God hears. Where are we impatient and turn in our enxieties to careless plans and calculations rather then crying out to one who sees and hears, the only one who can help.. this lesson is clear to Abram, Sarai, Hagar, Israel and to us : trust God’s word and patiently wait for his promises. To do our own plans and use human custom a will only complicate things and bring greater tensions. It is a blessing to us to trust in his wisdom, love and power to do it.
Faithlessness & Divine Intervention - The Life of Abraham
August 7, 2022 • Vitaly Kunda • Genesis 16
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The Life of Abraham
