BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 13

Loss of Hope

Genesis 16

Me- David Jeremiah recently wrote a book titled, “I Never Thought I would See the Day.”  In it he spoke about several things that he did not expect to see happen in his lifetime. Some of the subjects concerned the state of the economy, morality and the rise of Islam.

Picking up on that theme I never thought I would see the day when a president of the United States would openly condone homosexuality. It may seem strange to be speaking of this in light of the events in the life of Abram and Sarai. My thought is that it is not strange at all. Looking at God’s Word and having done quite a bit of reading of history, it is obvious that any deviation from God’s standard of one man and one woman married for life, brings about devastating consequences to any society.  One of the factors of the downfall of Rome and other nations was the breakdown of the family structure.

One of the things that is happening as a result of the violation of God’s foundation of the sanctity of marriage is the proliferation of children being born out of wedlock.  Another factor is the increase of children living in single parent homes.  Having come from a broken home I can relate to the suffering that takes place when a husband and wife decide to end a marriage. Contrary to what some may think, there are no winners when this happens. There are psychological and emotional scars, and even that can last for a lifetime.  Our view of God as a loving Father might be skewed as children see the anger and hatred that can grow over things like child custody and division of property.  Even worse children are hurt when one parent just walks away never to be heard from again. Sadly statistics show that these children generally do not have a promising future. Many of them end up in poverty or involved in crime. I do consider myself one of the fortunate ones.  My mother worked very hard to provide for my brother and me and to make sure that we did not get mixed up with the wrong crowds. Through her example both of us finished high school and I went on to college.  I have also been blessed with a wonderful wife and family.  

We are reaping the whirlwind that is spoken about in the Scriptures. No one wins when we disobey God.  I do not think I am stretching what is to be seen in this chapter of Genesis.  Over the next few weeks we will see how decisions about family relationships have impacted the world down to this day and time.

We-

Churches are certainly not exempt from playing a part in what is happening in our nation.  With the rise of liberalism we find that many churches are condoning lifestyles that would have brought horror to those of past generations.  There are even some denominations that have gone so far as to ordain homosexual leaders.  Many of us think nothing of young people living together and even having children before getting married.  All of these things are contrary to the desires of God for His people and will eventually lead to His judgment unless we change direction.  Multiple verses in Scripture reference how sacred God holds marriage. Malachi 2:14-16 and Hebrews 13:4 are just two places that God speaks of marriage.

 God-

Genesis 16:1

Implicit in this verse is almost a sadness and resignation that Sarai was not going to have children. By this time she was in mid-seventies and well beyond child-bearing years.  She knew that for a woman to be unable to provide an heir for her husband was a disgrace.  Both she and Abram could well have started questioning what God was up to at that point.  Moses for the first time mentions Hagar, the Egyptian maid of Sarai, who is going to play a significant role in the life of Abram.

1. What was the writer trying to convey with this verse?
2. Why would Abram and Sarai begin to question God?
3. Why is Sarai’s barrenness mentioned?
4. How would this reflect on the worth of a woman?
5. Why would the name of a maid even be mentioned?

Genesis 16:2-3

Because Sarai could not have children she gave Hagar to Abram as a wife.  She did this hoping that the maid would provide Abram with an heir and thus remove the stigma that came from not having children.  This was an acceptable practice in the pagan world but not acceptable according to God’s plan for marriage. Abram and Sarai did not wait on God but took matters in their own hands.  Abram had given God ten years to fulfill His promise and nothing had happened so the couple moved ahead.  There is no indication that they went to God for an answer to their dilemma.

1. Why did Sarai give Hagar to Abram was a wife?
2. What did she hope to accomplish?
3. How did this violate God’s standard for marriage?
4. In what way was this action a compromise with the ways of the world?
5. How long was long enough for Abram and Sarai to wait for the fulfillment of God’s promise?
6. What one important component did they leave out with their decision?

Genesis 16:4

Their plan was successful or was it?  Hagar soon became pregnant with Abram’s child.  When she discovered that she was expecting she began to despise Sarai. In her mind she was now better than Sarai.  Not only had she become Abram’s wife but now was going to provide him with an heir.  The result was that she now looked down on Sarai as being inferior.

1. From a human prospective how was the plan successful?
2. What were the results of Hagar becoming Abram’s wife?
3. Why did she begin despise and ridicule Sarai?
4. What does this show us about violating God’s plan for marriage?

Genesis 16:5

Sarai’s complaint to Abram indicated that she did not feel too secure in the relationship.  Now the maid was acting more like the wife and the wife like the maid. In her mind all the blame lay with Abram because evidently he was not consoling Sarai in her time of distress. 

1. Why did Sarai go to Abram concerning Hagar?
2. Why might she be feeling somewhat insecure at that moment?
3. If Sarai was right about Abram being responsible for the situation in what ways was she right?
4. What would have been the proper way for Abram to handle the situation?

Genesis 16:6

In essence Abram told Sarai that she was still his wife and Hagar was still the maid.  She was still responsible for the actions of Hagar.  Once this was said, Sarai began to treat the soon to be mother of Abram’s child with some civility but was so harsh with her that Hagar felt it necessary to flee to escape the situation.

1. What did Abram do for Sarai by telling her that Hagar was still her maid?
2. What does it show about Sarai that she began treating Hagar harshly?
3. Was she justified in her actions? Why or why not?
4. How did Hagar handle the difficult time she was having?
5. What would it accomplish?

Genesis 16:7-9

As Hagar fled she was met by an angel.  He asked her two questions:

• Where did you come from?
• Where are you going?

Hagar was only to answer one of them.  She stated that she was running away but could not say where she was going. The angel then commanded her to not only return to her mistress but also to once submit to her as before the time she got pregnant.

1. What was the purpose behind the two questions asked by the angel?   
2. Why did Hagar respond as she did?
3. What would be gained by just running away?
4. Why was it important for her to return to Abram’s home?
5. Why was she commanded to submit to Sarai?
6. In what ways have you tried to run away from something only to be stopped?
7. How difficult was it to return to the place from which you left?

The word of encouragement given to Hagar was in the form of a prophecy concerning the son she was carrying. First she was commanded to name him Ishmael, which means “God hears.” The final words from the angel described the kind of man Ishmael would be.  He said of him:

• He would be like a wild donkey of a man
• His hand will be against everyone
• All men will be against him
• Would live east of his brothers

The description is of the Arab world.  Ishmael was the father of the Arabs.  They have been the sworn enemy of the Israelites to this day.

1. Why was the child to be named Ishmael?
2. What is the importance to us today of the description of Ishmael and his descendants?
3. Knowing what is happening in the world today, what do you think of Abram’s and Sarai’s decision? Why?
4. What have been the consequences of that one decision?

Genesis 16:13-14

The response of Hagar would indicate that only the present meant anything.  All of the talk about what would occur in the future meant little to her.  She was more interested in the fact that God had talked with her and she had survived.  The spring where she carried on the conversation was named “Beer-lahai-roi” which means the well of the living one who sees me.

1. Why did Hagar seem to ignore the prophecies concerning her son to be born?
2. What was the impact of this meeting on Hagar?
3. From what she experienced at the spring why was she willing to return and submit to Sarai?
4. What has been the importance of these prophecies in the history of mankind?
5. How can we relate to them?

Genesis 16:15-16

It is obvious that Hagar obeyed the command of the angel.  She returned and gave birth to a son whom Abram named Ishmael just the angel had stated.  Moses states that Abram was eighty-six at the time of the birth of his son.

1. Why did the writer indicate the age of Abram at the birth of his son?
2. How long had he waited for son after leaving Ur of the Chaldees?

You-

• Write down what you believe about

1. Marriage
2. Divorce
3. Cohabitation
4. Homosexuality

• Consider how your beliefs line up with God’s Word
• Pray about those beliefs
• Pray about any time you may have wavered in your understanding of how God views each of those areas.

We-

God tells us that His Word never changes.  Just because society begins to accept certain positions on Marriage etc. does not make it right.  We as followers of Christ are to never compromise living according to God’s Word.  We must remember that although we can never condone behavior which is in direct opposition to God’s standards we are never to reject the person who is caught up in sinful living. Although we may not be able to do anything else we can pray that God will intervene in the situation and turn individuals from their sinful lifestyles.  Let us continue to love the person as Christ would love them but at the same time hating the sin that has enslaved them as Christ did.

Additional Notes:

BL-In Genesis chapter 16, Abram believed God would make him the father of many descendants, but he allowed Sarai to convince him that they needed to help God out!  Sarai talked Abram into conceiving a child with Hagar, her Egyptian maid (a practice that was not uncommon in those days among Eastern peoples). The plan backfired when Hagar began to despise her mistress.  Sarai mistreated Hagar, who ran away, but God’s angel sought Hagar out and urged her to return to her mistress.  He gave her a promise concerning her son, whom she was to name Ishmael.  Encouraged, Hagar called the Lord “the God who sees me” and returned to Abram’s camp to bear his son. (This is a good example of how God extends His love to all who will believe on Him, not just His “chosen” people of Israel.)

WM- Sadly, Sarai was just as much a part of this scheme as Abram.  When it did not work out according to her plan she became angry and blamed Abram for the situation in which they found themselves.  In a way she was right.  As head of the household he could have shown that he trusted God to give them a son even when it defied the laws of nature.  His words to her should have been a simple, wait on God.  In what ways have we shown that we are just like Abram and Sarai?  When was the last time you refused to wait on God’s timing before making a decision?  What was the result? (Gen. 16:1-2, 5)

WM-Abram lacked the patience to wait for God’s perfect timing in giving him a son.  Instead he took matters into his own hands and Ishmael was born.  This short-sighted decision his brought much grief in his own family and to the world ever since. (Gen. 16:4, 15)

C-Hagar was given to Abram by Sarai as his concubine to bear him a she was barren. This one act not only changed the status of Hagar but set in motion events that still have ramifications down to this present time.  For Ishmael would become the ancestor of the Arab world who are in conflict with God’s chosen people Israel to this day. (Gen. 16:1-4)

GC-Abram had to learn not to run ahead of God, but to wait for His perfect timing.  As he learned and we are still experiencing, the consequences of not waiting can be devastating.     (Gen. 16:1-10; Prov. 14:15-16)

M-Man often seeks to dethrone God by assuming His sovereignty over his own circumstances.  This activity brings with dire consequences. (Gen. 16:2-4)

C-The immediate consequence of this situation came after Hagar conceived.  She began to look down on and despise Sarai.  Her reaction was to complain and then mistreat Hagar until she ran away.  (Gen. 16:4-6)

M-One of the easiest ways to handle difficult situations for the short term is to run from them.  One such incident involved Sarai and Hagar. In it we see that God does not want us to flee from hard times.  His desire is to give us victory in them.  To never confront difficulties makes a person into weaker individual and possibly an emotion cripple. (Gen.16:6-12)

M-One who flees from the difficulties of life usually has no direction or purpose in his life.  They only know what they left behind, not what might lie ahead for them with all of the future may hold for him. (Gen. 16:8)

E-When the Lord came to Hagar as she fled from Sarai, He did not remove her from a difficult situation but sent her back but with a promise.  Why did God have her return? What could be gained by living under such tension?  What guarantee would she have that Abram and Sarai would even let her return?  Back to the promise, she was to have a son and through him there would come many descendents.  He also indicated the kind of man he would be:

1. A donkey of a man
2. At odds with everyone
3. His home would be east of his brothers

With this promise in hand Hagar did return to Abram. (Gen. 16:6-16)

C-An angel encouraged Hagar to return and be submissive to Sarai.  The angel also indicated to her that her son would be the father of great nation and kings would be among his descendents. (Gen. 16:7-14)

C-Abram became the father of Ishmael at the age of 86. (Gen. 16:15)