Sermon Tone Analysis

THAT TROUBLE WITH HAGAR

Genesis 16:1–16

Abraham: Following In The Footsteps Of Faith

Sermon #10

Intro: It is amazing the depths to which God’s Own people can sink.

Here is Abram, a man who is following God by faith.

He has believed God enough to leave his homeland and his family behind.

He has trusted God through battles and trials that would have made many men turn around in defeat and return home.

Yet, for all his faith and his good deeds, Abram is still a human.

He is still made of sinful flesh and there is still within him a pull towards the world and all its allurements.

We all know what this passage is about.

Sarai and Abram try to help God give them a son by having Abram take Sarai’s maidservant Hagar as his wife.

Of course, this was never God’s will for their lives, but, as with us, this did not stop them from rushing headlong into it anyway.

Their decision brought with it far reaching consequences for them and for our world today.

As we have time this morning, let’s spend a few minutes in this passage.

I want to preach for a while on the thought That Trouble With Unbelief.

I. V. 1–4 THE REASONS FOR THE UNBELIEF

(Ill.

While all the reasons behind this fiasco are far too many to mention, there are three reasons that we need to look at this morning.)

A. The Acceptance They Were Desiring

—In that society, it was considered a disgrace for a couple to be childless.

In our day, many couples choose that lifestyle for themselves and that is okay.

Others have that choice forced on them by physical reasons.

In Abram’s day, regardless of the reasons behind it, if a couple had no children, they were mocked, looked down on and largely were not accepted in society.

This was a society that also thought nothing of multiple marriages.

If a man like Abram were to take Hagar as a concubine, or secondary wife, no one around them would think a thing of it.

If that concubine were to bear a child, it would be considered to be the child of the first, or primary, wife.

In this way, Sarai could get the child she desired and be accepted in the community.

(Note: God’s children are often guilty of lowering their standards to those of the community around them in order to fit in better.

It is better to please God and be rejected by men that it is to please men and be rejected by God!

There MUST be a clear line of demarcation between the people of the Lord and the world around them, 2 Cor.

6:17

B. The Baggage They Were Dragging

—The Bible tells us that Hagar was an Egyptian.

She is part of the possessions that Abram brought back with him from his sinful journey into Egypt, Gen. 12:10–20.

Had he never journeyed to that country, there would have been no Hagar to marry!

He is still reaping the harvest he sowed in Egypt!

(Note: You never go into sin and come out clean!

There is always some reminder, some evidence that you were there!

That is the Law of Sowing and Reaping, Gal.

6:7–8

C. The Promises They Were Doubting

—Gen.

15:1–6 tells the story of God’s great promise to Abram.

When the promise was given, Abram reacted in faith, but as time has gone by, Abram has begun to doubt.

He, along with Sarai, decides that God needs help in fulfilling His promise.

After all, God only said that Abram would father a son; He didn’t say by whom he would father that son! (Note: It is my conviction that doubt towards the Word and promises of the Lord accounts for more of our troubles than anything other single thing.

We can read what He has promised us, but when the promise isn’t fulfilled immediately, we begin to doubt and try to find way to make it happen ourselves.

When will we ever learn that:

A. God always keeps His Word, Heb.

6:18; Rom.

4:21; Psa.

119:89

B. God is a God of order and that He doesn’t run on our schedule

(Ill.

Jesus—Men needed a Savior for 4,000 years before He came, but God sent Him “in the fulness of time”, Gal.

4:4.); and

C. God doesn’t need our help to accomplish His will, Psa.

50:12.)

The reasons for the unbelief

II.

V. 4–9 THE REACTIONS TO THE UNBELIEF

All three of the participants in this fiasco reacted differently to the situation.

All three reacted differently, but it is worthy to note that all three reacted badly.

NOTE-By the way, when sin and its problems, or any problem from any source, for that matter, arrives in our lives, most of the people in this room will react to it in one of the three manners I am about to share with you.)

A. V. 6 Abram Reacted By Being Unaccountable

—He tried to pretend that there was no problem and that if there was a problem, it was Sarai’s to deal with.

He totally ignored his responsibility in the whole situation.

(Note: Many people try to deal with their problems by simply ignoring them.

This will never work!

Left us settled, small problems grow into bigger ones in a short time.

Ill. 2 Sam.

13:1–39—David ignored the problem of Amnon and Tamar and the problem grew until Absalom took matters into his own hands and killed his brother!) (Note: Therefore, whether it be a problem in the home, on the job, in the community, at school or in the church, it must be confronted and dealt with or it will get out of hand.

Just ask Abram!)

B. V. 5 Sarai Reacted By Being Unreasonable

—Sarai was miserable because of the pride and haughtiness of Hagar, so she tried to make everyone else around her miserable too.

She tried to blame Abram for the problem.

She tried to blame Hagar for the problem.

She even dragged God into the problem.

She fleshed out the proverb: “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”

(Note: There are many who approach the problems of life with a similar attitude.

If they are unhappy, they want everyone else around them to be unhappy as well.

So, they get grouchy, mean-spirited, short-tempered and become hard to get along with.

Lest we forget, this is not a Christlike response to trouble and problems,

Ill.

Gal.

5:22–23

God would have us learn to handle the problems of life without attacking others or attempting to make them as miserable as we are!)

C. V. 6b–9 Hagar Reacted By Being Unavailable

—Hagar decided that the answer to her problems was flight.

She just packed up and left to get away from the problem.

(Note: This is the most common response of all!

When problems arise at church, don’t seek a solution, seek a new church.

When problems arise on the job, don’t fix it, find a new job.

When problems crop up in the marriage, don’t work it out, just find yourself a new mate.

Ill.

The giants of Canaan and the children of Israel.

They ran from the them first time, Numbers 13–14; but before their descendants could claim the land, they had to be faced and defeated, Deut.

9:1–2.)

(Note: I would just call your attention to the fact that God sent Hagar back to the family, 16:9.

He did this for several reasons, but among them is the fact that God intended to use this situation to help each of these three people to learn to face their problems His way.

Abram had to face it.

Sarai had to deal with it.

Hagar had to live in it.

God’s business isn’t to make you happy.

He wants to make you holy!