Genesis 16

Genesis 16:1

5. Ishmael, Son of the Flesh (Chaps. 16, 17)16:1-6 The restlessness of the sin nature is seen here. Instead of waiting on God, Sarai persuaded Abram to obtain a child by her maid, Hagar, who was probably acquired during the ill-fated sojourn in Egypt. God is faithful in recording the marital irregularities of His people, even if He never approved them. When Hagar became pregnant, she looked down in disdain on her mistress. Sarai responded by blaming Abram, then driving Hagar out of the house. This illustrates the conflict between law and grace. They cannot cohabit (Gal_4:21-31). While some of the behavior in this section may have been culturally acceptable then, it is certainly irregular from a Christian standpoint. 16:7-15 While Hagar was in the desert at Shur, on the way to Egypt, the Angel of the LORD came to her. This was the Lord Jesus in one of His preincarnate appearances, known as a Christophany. (See Judges 6 for an essay on the Angel of the LORD.) He counseled her to return and submit to Sarai, and promised that her son would become head of a great nation. That promise, of course, is fulfilled in the Arab people. The words “Return . . . and submit” have marked great turning points in the lives of many who have had dealings with God. Hagar’s exclamation in verse 13 might be paraphrased, “You are a God who may be seen,” for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” She named the well “Beer Lahai Roi” (literally, well of the One who lives and sees me). 16:16 Abram was eighty-six when Ishmael was born to Hagar. The name Ishmael means God hears. In this case He heard Hagar’s misery. We should remember throughout this narrative that Hagar represents law whereas Sarai represents grace (see Gal. 4).