1. Human Expediencies to Divine Promise Genesis 16
Undeserved Trouble Unexpected Meeting Unsought Blessing At the Well 1

2. Human Expediencies to Divine Promise Genesis 16
Undeserved Trouble
Triumph and growth in Abram’s faith
Overcoming the ties of nature
Tried by the stress of circumstances
Trials of relationships
Courage in the midst of insurmountable odds
Love for others in the midst of their sin
The testing of cupidity 2

3. Human Expediencies to Divine Promise Genesis 16
Undeserved Trouble
The Proposal
The testing of a suggestion
Fear of God or fear of man
Lack of patience is often a lack of faith, which leads to impulsive behavior.
The rest of the story – Galatians 4:22-31 3

4. Galatians 4: (NASB)
22  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.
23  But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.
24  This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.

5. 25  Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
26  But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.
27  For it is written,
“Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; For more numerous are the children of the desolate Than of the one who has a husband.”
28  And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.

6. 29  But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
30  But what does the Scripture say?
“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, For the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”
31  So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.

7. Human Expediencies to Divine Promise Genesis 16
Undeserved Trouble
The Proposal
The testing of a suggestion
Fear of God or fear of man
Lack of patience is often a lack of faith, which leads to impulsive behavior.
The rest of the story – Galatians 4:22-31
When we stop trusting God, we tend to blame God for the results (or lack thereof). 3

8. Human Expediencies to Divine Promise Genesis 16
Undeserved Trouble
Abram was at fault!
Sarai was at fault!
Hagar, although a sinner, was not at fault here. 4

9. Human Expediencies to Divine Promise Genesis 16
Unexpected Meeting
First mention of “The Angel of the Lord”
Not a created being, but a Divine Being
He specifically identifies Himself with Yahweh on various occasions.
The people to whom He makes His presence known recognize Him as a Divine Being.
Biblical writers call Him Yahweh.
This makes Jesus the central figure of both the Old and New Testaments. 5

10. Human Expediencies to Divine Promise Genesis 16
Unexpected Meeting
This meeting is a parallel to the Lord walking with Adam and Eve in the Garden.
God sought out Adam and Eve, and He did the same with Hagar.
In each case, they were running from God – Psalm 139:9-10. 6

11. Psalm 139:9-10 (NASB)
9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10  Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

12. Human Expediencies to Divine Promise Genesis 16
Unsought Blessing
God is about to bless Hagar, but first …
She must stop running from the place where God wants her to be.
She must return to the place from where she came.
Hagar calls Him “the god who sees.”
God names her son Ishmael, which means “God hears.” 7

13. Human Expediencies to Divine Promise Genesis 16
At the Well
Three things about this well
Located in the wilderness
The well was by a “fountain.”
God reveals Himself to Hagar at this well.
The wilderness is where we meet God.
This fountain that provides for us is a picture of God’s written Word.
This is where and how God reveals Himself. 8

14. Human Expediencies to Divine Promise Genesis 16
Application
Are you trusting God and growing …
in your earthly ties?
in the stress of your circumstances?
in your relationships?
in the boldness of your faith?
in your love for the brethren and lost?
in all that you seek after? 9

15. Human Expediencies to Divine Promise Genesis 16
Application
Have you met with God in the wilderness?
How much time do you spend at the well?
Are your well experiences those of Beer- lahai-roi, “the God that lives and sees me”? 10