1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” 1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” The custom: If a woman was barren, this practice was almost expected in order to produce an heir. Barrenness was viewed as divine disfavor, a curse. This made her an inadequate wife (culturally). (What was viewed as a curse would become blessing)

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” 1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” The custom: If a woman was barren, this practice was almost expected in order to produce an heir. To Abram, Hagar would be as a wife, but she would still be a servant of Sarai’s. Hagar could not be thrown out of the home unit, seeing that she would carry the heir.

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” 1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Hagar most likely was obtained during the brief, faithless sojourn in Egypt (Genesis 12). Sarai indicates discontent with the working of God in her case. (God is being / has been unfair to me.) She seeks a traditional solution over trusting. (A scheme to override God’s clear intention.) Though not a sinful act, it is a really bad idea. Let’s bring a new young wife into our marriage! Let’s try to weasel around what God is doing without consulting him at all!

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” 1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. Abram agreed to what Sarai said. Note Abram’s protest in this. Hagar ~ she gets a huge promotion.

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” 1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. Note Abram’s protest in this. It had been a long time. Instant results. (This would have been of further insult to Sarai.)

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. She has just been elevated from servant to #1 wife, sort of. “Despise” might be too strong of a word here. Perhaps it is the idea that she started acting like an equal, not a servant. Abram, of course, would now give attention to Hagar, as his wife and mother of this child. Sarai, of course, would have some real problems with this.

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. This would make great reality TV!

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.” When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.” “God is going to get you for this!” “Now we bring God into this?”

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.” When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.” 6 “Your servant is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. 6 “Your servant is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. Abram seems gutless here. Can God not turn our errors to his glory. Hagar is “your servant” and not “my wife”. Abram is spineless and Sarai is jealous and cruel. (She puts Hagar in her place.) Legally, Hagar could not be sold, so Sarai drove her out with misery.

7 The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” 7 The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. She is going away, toward Egypt. A question to stop her, not to gain information. God has compassion on Hagar (and child) God does not address her as “wife of Abram”)

7 The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” 7 The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. 9 Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel added, “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.” 9 Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel added, “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.” Go home. Stop antagonizing Sarai. (Get humble) I will take care of your future.

11The angel of the LORD also said to her: “You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. 12He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” Ishmael ~ God hears (strength to act implied) He will live under a similar blessing promised to Abraham No one is going to like him. (Outgrowth of bitterness?)

13 She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” 13 She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” As conversion experience for Hagar? There is an indication of humbling herself before the LORD.

13She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” 1 14That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. “Well of the Living One who sees me”

13 She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” 14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. 13 She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” 14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael. She goes home and obeys God. Abram is obedient in the naming

Do not try to scheme against what God is doing. “God has kept me from... ” What God has is better. Avoid problems later...

Do not try to scheme against what God is doing. Be very careful in viewing circumstance as being punative. This adversity would result in extreme blessing for us all David fleeing Saul Jeremiah in the well Hannah Israel in Egypt Paul’s afflictions Persecution in general Job The cross

Do not try to scheme against what God is doing. Be very careful in viewing circumstance as being punative. “My circumstance means that God is against me.” “I have cancer, therefore God is punishing me.” God will not punish a believer, ever. (tetelestai) Isaiah 53: 5-6 he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Do not try to scheme against what God is doing. Be very careful in viewing circumstance as being punative. “My circumstance means that God is against me.” “I have cancer, therefore God is punishing me.” “I lost my home so I know that God doesn’t love me” Trust that God is using adversity to eventually bless.

Do not try to scheme against what God is doing. Be very careful in viewing circumstance as being punative. “Your circumstance means that you are a sinner.” This is exactly what the four friends said to Job.

Do not try to scheme against what God is doing. Be very careful in viewing circumstance as being punative. God is always working in what seems like the background to us. He was fully at work in Sarai’s barrenness. Who’s will be done? Romans 8:28-39

Do not try to scheme against what God is doing. Be very careful in viewing circumstance as being punative. God is always working in what seems like the background to us. Trust, obey and be patient. Go with the purpose: Acts 20:22-24 Embrace loss: Philippians 3:7-14