Walking with Abraham pt. 4 - The Hagar incident

Read Genesis 16:1-6

Abram in his mid-80's and Sarai in her mid-70’s. Still no child. God has yet to fulfill his promise. Sarai experiences her crisis of faith.

1) How did Sarai get a servant from Egypt? Read Genesis 12:12-20. Pharoah gave Sarai and Abram servants before they left Egypt. Abram's Egyptian trip is about to come back to haunt him.

2) What did Sarai tell Abram to do? Sleep with her handmaiden Hagar. Why? Sarai blamed God for her failure to bear children. It’s been 10 years since God promised Abram an heir.

3) What did Abram do and why did Abram do it? Took Hagar as his wife and slept with her. Did Abram consult God and ask Him if that was part of the Plan? Have a discussion with Sarai about whether or not her plan was a good idea? No. He listened to the voice of Sarai. No hesitation in Abram. Those of who have spouses. How much influence does your spouse have over the decisions you make? I don’t mean what color paint to use for the bathroom or what you drink, Coke or Pepsi. I’m talking about life-impacting decisions – financial (buying a house) and spiritual (sin or not to sin). Ex. Visit to Egypt. Abram used his influence as Sarai’s husband to cause her to do something that was wrong. Now, Sarai’s using her influence as Abram’s wife to cause him to do something wrong. How are you influencing your spouse/someone close to you? Positive or negative? Holiness or sin? Who should have the greater influence in a relationship? You, your spouse/friend/family member, or God?

Factor influencing Abram’s decision to have a child by Hagar is what God said to Abram in Genesis 15:4. Abram probably believed this is how God’s promise would be carried out. God said that he would have a child from his own flesh, not Sarai’s.

4) What happened? Hagar got pregnant immediately.

5) What problems arose from Hagar’s pregnancy? Tension within Abram’s household. between Sarai and Hagar and between Sarai and Abram. Despised/contempt – Two ways to interpret this word. 1) to make light of. Hagar began to rub it in Sarai’s face that she was pregnant and Sarai was not. 2) to treat with contempt. Hagar angry at Sarai for getting her pregnant. She did not choose to be with child. Who did Sarai blame? Abram. Why? He was the one that got Hagar pregnant. It’s so easy to blame others for our mistakes.

6) vs. 6. What was Abram’s response to Sarai? Sarai, you deal with her however you please. What is your opinion of Abram’s response? What did Sarai do? Abuse Hagar

7) What image of Abram do we gleam from this incident? Weakness as a husband/spiritual leader, impatience, lacking wisdom, lack of compassion

8) What lessons are we to learn from the “Hagar incident?” PATIENCE. Wait upon the Lord. Allow God to work out His plan for us in His timing. If we become impatient and try to carry out God’s plan on our own, the outcome will not be good. Negative consequences in the immediate and far reaching future. Impact Abram’s impatience – immediate: friction in the family (Sarai vs. Hagar; Sarai vs. Abram; Ishamael vs. Isaac) and friction between God and Abram (see in Genesis 17); Far-reaching future (Genesis 16:11-12) – According to Islamic tradition, the Arabs are descendants of Ishmael. Enemies of the descendants of Isaac – the Jews/Israel. Hit hard – Impact of sin can be felt for generations/centuries. Your sin does not just impact you, but impacts others around you. In the same way your obedience to God/your righteousness does not just impact you, but can impact others around you – your spouse, children, grandchildren, etc.

Summarize the rest of the story of Hagar and Ishmael. Rest of chapter 16 - Sarai kicked Hagar out of the house. She ran into the wilderness. An angel from God told her to go back to Sarai. Moreover, the angel told Hagar that she would have a multitude of descendants. Her son Ishmael would be constantly in conflict with his others especially his kinsmen (Isaac and his descendants the Jews); ch. 21:8-21 - After Sarai (no Sarah) gave birth to Isaac, she kicked Hagar and Ishmael out of the house. They fled to the wilderness. Hagar and Ishmael were dying of thirst. She walked away from her son not wanting to watch him die. An angel came and showed them a fountain of water in the wilderness. God told them that Ishmael would be the father of a great nation. Islamic tradition says this great nation is the Arabs. ch. 25:12-18 - Ishmael's descendants settle in Havilah and Shur - modern day Saudi Arabia and Egypt.