GENESIS
CHAPTER
16
1. Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian slave-girl whose name was Hagar, 2 and Sarai said to Abram, "You see that the LORD has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my slave-girl; it may be that I shall obtain children by her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
(Genesis chapter 16 verses 1 and 2)
The author of the book of Genesis, gives us a typical example of when we do not wait on God for his deliverance. Instead of doing so Sarai resorted to disobedience to the will of God in favour of the sinful ways of the world. Knowing that she was biologically able to conceive offspring Sarai ordered Abram to have intercourse with her slave-girl in order to obtain offspring. However, Sarai was not considering the consequences of such an arrangement.
During such intimate moments as intercourse the flame of love and even sexual lust and instinctual desire is stimulated, therefore a relationship is created between the two partners, that at times may be long lasting even up to after the offspring is born. In the long run this creates complex problems that may be difficult to resolve due to the intimacy of the nature of the act.
What Sarai was not considering is the risk that this relationship would result between the slave-girl and Abram with the undesired consequences. Moreover Sarai was still angry at God. When reflecting on the first two verses of the sixteenth chapter of the book of Genesis, Sarai seems to be implying to Abram the following;
"Since your God did not solve our problem, and give us children, now we are going to do it my way. Go and have intercourse with my slave-girl so that she will bear me a child. Or opt for a surrogate mother so that I will give you a child and then forget about the natural mother. She is only a means to reach our ends".
3. So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife.
(Genesis chapter 16 verse 3)
After ten years of waiting on God Abram and Sarai could no longer keep on waiting on God. When the appropriate moment came they willingly agreed on taking the available option that went in contrary to the promise made by God to Abram.
During such intimate moments, we may consider God as having been taking his time before answering our prayers, however God has his own agenda for our God, such plans that the human mind cannot even perceive.
Therefore on going against the Holy Will and promise made by God Abram and Sarai were liable to experience the positive and negative consequences of their disobedience.
4. He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.
(Genesis chapter 16 verse 4)
Instantly Sarai began experiencing the negative consequences of her sinful act. Stress was created in her relationship with Hagar her slave-girl and I imagine even with her relationship towards Abram who would now look on Hagar with a different perception now that she had become the mother of his long desired son.
5. Then Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my slave-girl to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!"
(Genesis chapter 16 verse 5)
On analyzing the dynamic taking place between Sarai and Abram we can reflect on the following conclusions.
Instead of referring to God in the first place, before deciding to give Hagar to Abram, Sarai resorted to the ways of the world. On doing so she assumed full responsibility for her actions. Now that things did not go her way, she became angry at Abram and asked for God to act as a judge between Abram and herself.
During such intimate moments we tend to use God as the last alternative or even the safety-valve in the eventuality when our plans have gone wrong, and we are left with no other option to refer to. Only then do we implore the help of God.
As we know the role of the judge is that of analyzing a given situation and assign the negative consequence for the given behaviour. On reflecting if God was to do such a thing both Abram and Sarai would have been found at fault. They would surely have been accused of disobeying the will of God and even of placing the blame on God and on each other for the consequences of their negative actions.
6. But Abram said to Sarai, "Your slave-girl is in your power; do to her as you please." Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she ran away from her.
(Genesis chapter 16 verse 6)
At times it is the case that unlimited power leads to forms of abuse. According to Abram Sarai had absolute power over her slave-girl. As a consequence she abused that power by making her life miserable so much that she ran away from Sarai her mistress. Moreover even Abram abused the slave girl. After he had used the slave-girl in order to procreate the son that he had long wished her, he rejected her by permitting her to experience the wrath and jealousy of her mistress who showed no mercy and made her life a living hell.
If we are not careful it can easily happen to us. As parents or employers etc, we have a degree of authority over our children, employees etc. However this authority can easily be abused. There are instances were subordinates had to obey, the wills of significant others in order to keep their jobs or remain living in the house of their parents, who as parents played the role of God of the household and caused more harm than good by adopting this negative stand.
7. The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, "Hagar, slave-girl of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?" She said, " I am running away from my mistress Sarai."
(Genesis chapter 16 verse 7 and 8)
When we are in such a stressful situation meaning enduring such abuse or tribulations, we may try to solve the situation by literally running away. However running away, may make the situation more complicated and difficult to solve. If we turn to God in prayer, our problems, may take on a more positive perspective or attitude.
At times if we do not turn to God, He turns back to us. He does so by sending people in our lives who help us return back to the ways of God. As in the case of Hagar, we are asked a very important question that each of us have to answer at some time or other in our lives.
Where have you come from and where are you going?
Along the way during the pilgrimage of our life on on earth, there is the risk of losing the way and end up walking according to the ways of the world, with the risk of losing our sense of direction and ending up walking against God's ways instead of obeying him. We end up living in a state of such turmoil and confusion that we lose our objective.
A typical example is the following:
A couple who for some reason (personal issues) decided to file a separation process end up seeking other partners. Before they ended up in this situation they used to pray, work and even have fun together. When prayer time no longer had a meaning for them, they both started leading separate lives thus losing the primary objective of their lives, that was loving God and loving each other.
On seeking new partners they ended up experiencing the same issues because their own personal problems were still not resolved. Therefore in the process they lost their primary objective, that is where they were coming from and ended up lost and disoriented, because they had no purpose to live for. In living such a life, they both lost their sense of direction.
9. The angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit to her." 10 The angel of the LORD also said to her, " I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude."11 And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Now you have conceived and shall bear a son; and you shall call him Ishmael, for the LORD has given heed to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild ass of a man with his hand against everyone, and everyone's hand against him; and he shall live at odds with all his kin.
(Genesis chapter 16 verses 9 to 12)
In situations where the case is not physical or maybe psychological abuse, and or maybe the cause of litigation can be resolved with prayer and communication, it would be best for the partners to return back and solve their issues in a spirit of prayer and humility and ideally seek spiritual direction so that as a couple they remain in God's ways and strengthen their relationship as a couple and even with God.
The case of Hagar, Abram and Sarai, the situation, was one of such situations that could be considered as being not beyond hope or remedy, although I believe that if we give any situation to God there is no situation that is not possible to be dealt with.
As for Ishmael, negative connotations are attributed to him. He is the son of rebellion and disobedience and therefore no good is expected to arise from him. However God is able to turn even evil to good. As much as the offspring of Abram as promised by God would be innumerable, meaning difficult to be counted so would the descendants of Ishmael according to God's will. Therefore both sons in part and or in whole benefited from the blessing of the will of God that was originally bestowed on Abram and his descendants.
13. So she named the LORD who spoke to her, "You are El-roi"; for she said, "Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?" 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi? it lies between Kadesh and Bered.
(Genesis chapter 16 verses 13 to 14)
If it is to our memory in the beginning God gave Adam the first human, the right to name all creatures and even his wife. This process meant that Adam claimed ownership over all that God had given him in his custody. Hagar also was given such an opportunity. After having made a direct experience of God or his angel she made a personal acquisition of God and he became the God of her life. Oh how I pray to God that this experience is that of all humanity! including that of myself.
15. Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.
(Genesis chapter 16 verses 15 to 16)
Hagar bore Abram a son which in obedience to the will of God she named Ishmael because God listens to our prayers both that happen in a spirit of happiness and thanks giving and even those that are the fruit of pain and agony.
Abram was eighty six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael; when referring to chapter 11 of the book of Genesis we have the following scenario;
On making a list of the post-flood descendants of Noah we are given the following results;
(Genesis chapter 16 verse 6)
At times it is the case that unlimited power leads to forms of abuse. According to Abram Sarai had absolute power over her slave-girl. As a consequence she abused that power by making her life miserable so much that she ran away from Sarai her mistress. Moreover even Abram abused the slave girl. After he had used the slave-girl in order to procreate the son that he had long wished her, he rejected her by permitting her to experience the wrath and jealousy of her mistress who showed no mercy and made her life a living hell.
If we are not careful it can easily happen to us. As parents or employers etc, we have a degree of authority over our children, employees etc. However this authority can easily be abused. There are instances were subordinates had to obey, the wills of significant others in order to keep their jobs or remain living in the house of their parents, who as parents played the role of God of the household and caused more harm than good by adopting this negative stand.
7. The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, "Hagar, slave-girl of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?" She said, " I am running away from my mistress Sarai."
(Genesis chapter 16 verse 7 and 8)
When we are in such a stressful situation meaning enduring such abuse or tribulations, we may try to solve the situation by literally running away. However running away, may make the situation more complicated and difficult to solve. If we turn to God in prayer, our problems, may take on a more positive perspective or attitude.
At times if we do not turn to God, He turns back to us. He does so by sending people in our lives who help us return back to the ways of God. As in the case of Hagar, we are asked a very important question that each of us have to answer at some time or other in our lives.
Where have you come from and where are you going?
Along the way during the pilgrimage of our life on on earth, there is the risk of losing the way and end up walking according to the ways of the world, with the risk of losing our sense of direction and ending up walking against God's ways instead of obeying him. We end up living in a state of such turmoil and confusion that we lose our objective.
A typical example is the following:
A couple who for some reason (personal issues) decided to file a separation process end up seeking other partners. Before they ended up in this situation they used to pray, work and even have fun together. When prayer time no longer had a meaning for them, they both started leading separate lives thus losing the primary objective of their lives, that was loving God and loving each other.
On seeking new partners they ended up experiencing the same issues because their own personal problems were still not resolved. Therefore in the process they lost their primary objective, that is where they were coming from and ended up lost and disoriented, because they had no purpose to live for. In living such a life, they both lost their sense of direction.
9. The angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit to her." 10 The angel of the LORD also said to her, " I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude."11 And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Now you have conceived and shall bear a son; and you shall call him Ishmael, for the LORD has given heed to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild ass of a man with his hand against everyone, and everyone's hand against him; and he shall live at odds with all his kin.
(Genesis chapter 16 verses 9 to 12)
In situations where the case is not physical or maybe psychological abuse, and or maybe the cause of litigation can be resolved with prayer and communication, it would be best for the partners to return back and solve their issues in a spirit of prayer and humility and ideally seek spiritual direction so that as a couple they remain in God's ways and strengthen their relationship as a couple and even with God.
The case of Hagar, Abram and Sarai, the situation, was one of such situations that could be considered as being not beyond hope or remedy, although I believe that if we give any situation to God there is no situation that is not possible to be dealt with.
As for Ishmael, negative connotations are attributed to him. He is the son of rebellion and disobedience and therefore no good is expected to arise from him. However God is able to turn even evil to good. As much as the offspring of Abram as promised by God would be innumerable, meaning difficult to be counted so would the descendants of Ishmael according to God's will. Therefore both sons in part and or in whole benefited from the blessing of the will of God that was originally bestowed on Abram and his descendants.
13. So she named the LORD who spoke to her, "You are El-roi"; for she said, "Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?" 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi? it lies between Kadesh and Bered.
(Genesis chapter 16 verses 13 to 14)
If it is to our memory in the beginning God gave Adam the first human, the right to name all creatures and even his wife. This process meant that Adam claimed ownership over all that God had given him in his custody. Hagar also was given such an opportunity. After having made a direct experience of God or his angel she made a personal acquisition of God and he became the God of her life. Oh how I pray to God that this experience is that of all humanity! including that of myself.
15. Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.
(Genesis chapter 16 verses 15 to 16)
Hagar bore Abram a son which in obedience to the will of God she named Ishmael because God listens to our prayers both that happen in a spirit of happiness and thanks giving and even those that are the fruit of pain and agony.
Abram was eighty six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael; when referring to chapter 11 of the book of Genesis we have the following scenario;
On making a list of the post-flood descendants of Noah we are given the following results;
Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 years
Abram fathered children when he was eighty-six years old.
Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.
Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.
Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years.
Peleg fathered children at 30 years old and died at 209 years.
Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years.
Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years.
Nahor fathered children at 29 years old.
When adding Abram to the post-flood generation table he is in second place after Shem who had offspring at the age of 100 years old and lived 500 years. As previously mentioned Shem lived a good life in God's eyes. Therefore it may follow that Abram also lived such a life because he was the closest to the ideal exemplary person of the post-flood generation, at a time when society had already started to corrupt itself leading to the peak situation of Babel which is a typical exhibition of disobedience at its best.
I would like to end chapter 16 of the book of Genesis with the following prayer:
Oh God I thank you for being active in my life. Even though there were and still are situations when my will may clash against yours, I still thank you for doing it your way instead of mine. I thank you for not permitting me to reach particular goals in my life such as returning to the world of Social Work. At times this situation has me baffled and I end up questioning my real intention where I am heading and where I wish to arrive. I really wish to work with people who have cancer, however I raising a wave of opposition in my family which I know is not your doing. However for some reason you are permitting it to happen. I accept the outcome as being nothing but your will. As in Hagar's case I call you a loving father and I am ready to obey your will even if it means going against mine forever and never act according to my wish.
THANK YOU
GOD
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