Hagar's Encounter-God Sees (1)

Part 1: Hagar’s Encounter-God Sees

Genesis 16

Genesis 16 Hagar’s Encounter-God Sees

16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”

6 “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.

7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.

9 Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”

11 The angel of the Lord also said to her:

“You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael,[a] for the Lord has heard of your misery. 12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward[b] all his brothers.”

13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen[c] the One who sees me.” 14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi[d]; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.

15 So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

Background: Genesis 15 God has reestablished the call and covenant of Abraham as stated in Gen 12. While Abraham was in a deep sleep he performed the ritual of the covenant. From gen 15: 18-21 God tells Abraham in a dream the land that he will give him and his descendant from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates….and then the land of the Kenites, LL THE WAY TO THE CANAANITES….AND then after here lies the story of Hagar (Egyptian Servant) and Sari. Servant or slave then was considered a part of the household. It was a custom then for the husband to sleep with the servant to produce an heir or the servant themselves could be the heir. (This why Abraham asked was a servant in his household becoming his heir Gen 15:3- The Lord said this man will not be your servant). God told him a son who is his Abraham flesh and blood will be your heir.

This is why the story of Hagar is interesting. Both Abraham and Sarai thought they will help God out. They were responding to their cultural norms.

The Story line:

Hagar was an Egyptian slave girl that belonged to Abram/Sarai (Abraham and Sarah)

Hagar probably heard her master’s conversation regarding having an heir.

Sarah instructed Abraham to go and sleep with Hagar.

Abram agreed with Sarai and then conflict started with Hagar and Sarai

Hagar’s Actions Gen 16:4-6

Hagar was subject to her role as a servant.

She had to submit to Abraham.

Hagar is a young woman while Abraham is close to 90 years old (Think about it)

Hagar becomes pregnant and soon recognized that she has one up on Sarah.

Hagar makes Sarah feels that her status has changed.

Hagar was forced to be pregnant but realizes I now have what you need. I am the prize. Its not your husband that cannot produce it’s you. So, she taunted Sarai because of her barrenness.

Sarah struck back with cruelty.

Hagar fled from her home

Hagar’s Encounter Gen 16: 7-12

Conversation: The angle of the Lord calls her by her name and status v8

(Note why call out her status: Because Hagar usurped Sarah’s authority.)

Instructions:

Promise

Hagar’s Response: She recognized, honored, and obeyed God.

El-Roi (El-Raw-EE) a pagan slave girl recognized God,

Angel of the Lord: Embodied God…meaning he was in the flesh.