11Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; named Hagar; 22so she said to Abram, “The LORD so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children.has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.”through her.”

The custom: The custom:

If a woman was barren, this practice was If a woman was barren, this practice was almost expected in order to produce an heir.almost expected in order to produce an heir.

Barrenness was viewed as divine disfavor, Barrenness was viewed as divine disfavor, a curse.a curse.

This made her an inadequate wife This made her an inadequate wife (culturally).(culturally).

(What was viewed as a curse would (What was viewed as a curse would become blessing)become blessing)

11Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; named Hagar; 22so she said to Abram, “The LORD so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children.has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.”through her.”

The custom: The custom:

If a woman was barren, this practice was If a woman was barren, this practice was almost expected in order to produce an heir.almost expected in order to produce an heir.

To Abram, Hagar would be as a wife, but she To Abram, Hagar would be as a wife, but she would still be a servant of Sarai’s.would still be a servant of Sarai’s.

Hagar could not be thrown out of the home Hagar could not be thrown out of the home unit, seeing that she would carry the heir.unit, seeing that she would carry the heir.

11Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; named Hagar; 22so she said to Abram, “The LORD so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children.has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.”through her.”

Hagar most likely was obtained during the brief, Hagar most likely was obtained during the brief, faithless faithless

sojourn in Egypt (Genesis 12).sojourn in Egypt (Genesis 12).

Sarai indicates discontent with the working of Sarai indicates discontent with the working of God in her God in her

case. (God is being / has been unfair to case. (God is being / has been unfair to me.)me.)

She seeks a traditional solution over trusting. She seeks a traditional solution over trusting. (A scheme to override God’s clear (A scheme to override God’s clear

intention.)intention.)

Though not a sinful act, it is a really bad idea.Though not a sinful act, it is a really bad idea.Let’s bring a new young wife into our Let’s bring a new young wife into our marriage!marriage!Let’s try to weasel around what God is doing Let’s try to weasel around what God is doing without without

consulting him at all!consulting him at all!

11Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; named Hagar; 22so she said to Abram, “The LORD so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children.has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.”through her.”

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. Abram agreed to what Sarai said.

Note Abram’s protest in this.Note Abram’s protest in this.

Hagar ~ she gets a huge promotion. Hagar ~ she gets a huge promotion.

11Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; named Hagar; 22so she said to Abram, “The LORD so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children.has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.”through her.”

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 33So after So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. gave her to her husband to be his wife. 44He slept He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.with Hagar, and she conceived.

Note Abram’s protest in this.Note Abram’s protest in this.It had been a long time.It had been a long time.Instant results. Instant results.

(This would have been of further insult to (This would have been of further insult to Sarai.) Sarai.)

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.despise her mistress.

She has just been elevated from servant to #1 She has just been elevated from servant to #1 wife, sort of.wife, sort of.

““Despise” might be too strong of a word here. Despise” might be too strong of a word here. Perhaps it is the idea that she started acting like Perhaps it is the idea that she started acting like an equal, not a servant.an equal, not a servant.

Abram, of course, would now give attention to Abram, of course, would now give attention to Hagar, as his Hagar, as his

wife and mother of this child. wife and mother of this child.

Sarai, of course, would have some real problems Sarai, of course, would have some real problems with this.with this.

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. despise her mistress. 55Then Sarai said to Abram, Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me.knows she is pregnant, she despises me.

This would make great reality TV!This would make great reality TV!

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. despise her mistress. 55Then Sarai said to Abram, Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the May the LORD judge between you and me.”LORD judge between you and me.”

““God is going to get you for this!”God is going to get you for this!”

““Now we bring God into this?” Now we bring God into this?”

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. despise her mistress. 55Then Sarai said to Abram, Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.”LORD judge between you and me.”

66“Your servant is in your hands,” Abram said. “Your servant is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.

Abram seems gutless here. Abram seems gutless here. Can God not turn our errors to his glory. Can God not turn our errors to his glory. Hagar is “your servant” and not “my wife”.Hagar is “your servant” and not “my wife”.

Abram is spineless and Sarai is jealous and Abram is spineless and Sarai is jealous and cruel.cruel.

(She puts Hagar in her place.)(She puts Hagar in her place.)

Legally, Hagar could not be sold, so Sarai drove Legally, Hagar could not be sold, so Sarai drove her out her out

with misery.with misery.

77The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. road to Shur. 88And he said, “Hagar, servant of And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”you going?” “ “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. answered.

She is going away, toward Egypt.She is going away, toward Egypt.A question to stop her, not to gain information.A question to stop her, not to gain information.God has compassion on Hagar (and child)God has compassion on Hagar (and child)God does not address her as “wife of Abram”)God does not address her as “wife of Abram”)

77The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. road to Shur. 88And he said, “Hagar, servant of And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”you going?” “ “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. answered. 99Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” to your mistress and submit to her.” 1010The angel The angel added, “I will so increase your descendants that added, “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.”they will be too numerous to count.”

Go home.Go home.Stop antagonizing Sarai. (Get humble)Stop antagonizing Sarai. (Get humble)I will take care of your future.I will take care of your future.

1111The angel of the LORD also said to her: The angel of the LORD also said to her:

““You are now with child You are now with child and you will have a son.and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael,You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery.for the LORD has heard of your misery. 1212He will be a wild donkeyHe will be a wild donkey of a man; of a man; his hand will be against everyone his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”toward all his brothers.”

Ishmael ~ God hears (strength to act implied)Ishmael ~ God hears (strength to act implied)He will live under a similar blessing promised to He will live under a similar blessing promised to AbrahamAbrahamNo one is going to like him. (Outgrowth of No one is going to like him. (Outgrowth of bitterness?) bitterness?)

1313She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”“I have now seen the One who sees me.”

As conversion experience for Hagar?As conversion experience for Hagar?There is an indication of humbling herself before There is an indication of humbling herself before the LORD.the LORD.

1313She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”“I have now seen the One who sees me.” 1414That is That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. there, between Kadesh and Bered.

““Well of the Living One who sees me”Well of the Living One who sees me”

1313She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”“I have now seen the One who sees me.” 1414That is That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. there, between Kadesh and Bered. 1515So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. 1616Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.him Ishmael.

She goes home and obeys God. She goes home and obeys God.

Abram is obedient in the namingAbram 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 allDavid fleeing SaulJeremiah in the wellHannahIsrael in EgyptPaul’s afflictionsPersecution in generalJobThe 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: 5-6he 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