Genesis 16

Genesis 16 focuses on Sarai's impatience for God's promise of a child. She suggests Abram take Hagar, her Egyptian maid, to bear a child on her behalf. This decision leads to complications within their household, highlighting human frailty, impatience, and the consequences of acting outside God's plan. The chapter also introduces Ishmael, whose descendants play a significant role in biblical history.

Genesis 16:1 (NKJV)
"Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar."

Sarai, Abram's wife, had not yet borne children, which was a source of distress, especially given the cultural importance of offspring in ancient times. Sarai's barrenness, despite God's promise, tested her patience and faith. The introduction of Hagar, the Egyptian servant, sets the stage for Sarai's plan to try and secure an heir through means other than waiting on God's timing. This verse highlights the tension between the divine promise and human action.

Genesis 16:2-3 (NKJV)
"So Sarai said to Abram, 'See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.' And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.
Then Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan."

Sarai, feeling frustrated and hopeless, believed that her barrenness was God's doing. Instead of waiting for God's promise, she took matters into her own hands by offering Hagar to Abram as a surrogate. Abram, despite God's earlier promise of offspring through Sarai, agreed to Sarai’s plan. This decision reflects human impatience and the consequences of trying to "help" God fulfill His promises through human strategies, which often lead to unforeseen problems.

Genesis 16:4 (NKJV)
"So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes."

Hagar quickly became pregnant, and the dynamics in the household shifted. Hagar’s pregnancy gave her a sense of superiority over Sarai, as she now carried Abram's child, something Sarai could not achieve. This new tension between Sarai and Hagar was the immediate result of their decision, showcasing how trying to fulfill God's promise in a human way brought conflict and resentment into their lives.

Genesis 16:5-6 (NKJV)
"Then Sarai said to Abram, 'My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between you and me.'
So Abram said to Sarai, 'Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.' And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence."

Sarai, though initially responsible for the plan, now placed the blame on Abram. Her frustration at Hagar's attitude led to her outburst, blaming her husband for the situation. Abram, instead of intervening or correcting the wrongs, passively allowed Sarai to treat Hagar as she wished. Sarai's harsh treatment caused Hagar to flee, revealing how taking control outside of God’s guidance often leads to strife, guilt, and broken relationships.

Genesis 16:7-8 (NKJV)
"Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.
And He said, 'Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?' She said, 'I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.'"

Hagar, in her distress, fled into the wilderness, but God did not abandon her. The Angel of the Lord appeared to her, revealing God's care for even the outcast and those caught in unfortunate circumstances. The question He asked her prompted reflection: Where are you coming from, and where are you going? It emphasizes that God sees the heart and is involved in the lives of everyone, even those on the margins.

Genesis 16:9-10 (NKJV)
"The Angel of the Lord said to her, 'Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.'
Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, 'I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.'"

The Angel of the Lord instructed Hagar to return and submit to Sarai, which might seem challenging given her mistreatment. However, this command came with a promise: Hagar's descendants would be greatly multiplied. This shows that God had a plan for Hagar and her unborn child, Ishmael. God's promise of numerous descendants reveals His ability to bless and protect even in difficult and unjust circumstances.

Genesis 16:11-12 (NKJV)
"And the Angel of the Lord said to her:
'Behold, you are with child,
And you shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the Lord has heard your affliction.
He shall be a wild man;
His hand shall be against every man,
And every man’s hand against him.
And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.'"

In this passage, the angel of the LORD speaks to Hagar, announcing the birth of Ishmael. The name "Ishmael" means "God hears," signifying God's awareness of Hagar’s suffering. Verse 12 provides a prophecy about Ishmael’s future and the nature of his descendants.

"He will be a wild man": This suggests Ishmael and his descendants will live a nomadic, independent lifestyle, reflecting the traditional Bedouin way of life found in many Arab tribes. Historically, these tribes moved through desert regions, relying on their own resources and maintaining a lifestyle separate from more settled peoples.

"His hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him": This phrase points to the conflicts Ishmael’s descendants would experience throughout history. The Arab people, believed to be the descendants of Ishmael, have had a history of conflict both within their own tribes and with neighboring nations. This can be seen in the inter-tribal feuds of the Arab world as well as their long-standing conflicts with external groups, including historical battles over territory and resources.

"He shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren": This likely refers to the fact that Ishmael’s descendants would live near or alongside the descendants of Isaac (who fathered the Israelites), creating a long-standing proximity between the two groups. The Arab peoples, particularly those in the Middle East, have historically lived near Israel, with whom there have been frequent conflicts.

Genesis 16:13-14 (NKJV)
"Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, 'Have I also here seen Him who sees me?'
Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered."

Hagar had a profound encounter with God, recognizing Him as "the God who sees." This name reflected her amazement that God had noticed her suffering and cared enough to intervene. The naming of the well Beer Lahai Roi, meaning "Well of the Living One Who Sees Me," commemorates this divine encounter and serves as a reminder that God sees the struggles and afflictions of the overlooked and oppressed.

Genesis 16:15-16 (NKJV)
"So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram."

In fulfillment of God's word, Hagar bore Abram a son, whom Abram named Ishmael, just as the angel had instructed. Though Ishmael was born out of human impatience, God still acknowledged him and had plans for him. Abram, now eighty-six, saw the birth of his first son, but this was not the promised son through Sarai, which would come in God's timing. This concludes the chapter, showing that God's plans would still unfold despite human actions.