Human Interruption in God's Plan- Gen. 16

We have in chapter 16 a display of two women and their role in God’s plan of redemption. Though near the end of chapter 11 Abram becomes the focus (and remains so until chapter 25), his role in this chapter is at the sidelines. Sarai and Hagar maintain the significant roles.

There is so much in this chapter that I would love to look at, but for the sake of time we will focus on one primary thought:

When believers fail to trust the Word of God, we interrupt His plans and bring unnecessary pain on ours and others’ lives.

We will qualify this statement with an addition tidbit at the end of this sermon, but for now let’s look at this thought as we progress through this chapter.

What we see in this chapter is human interruption in the plan of God. Now, from other Scripture (such as Rom. 8:28), we know that God providentially guides and directs all things for His purposes (including our interruptions, e.g., Acts 2:23, 4:28). However, it does not absolve us from personal responsibility, nor does it free us from the difficulties of our failures. With that said, let us learn from this passage of Scripture to trust God’s Word and work within His plan (including His means and timing).

I. Human Interruption Comes Through Human Reasoning- 16:1-3

II. Human Interruption Harms People- 16:4-6

III. Human Interruption Does Not Hinder God’s Plan- 16:7-16

I. Human Interruption Comes Through Human Reasoning- 16:1-3

As we work through this portion of Scripture, I am using two phrases that I want to elaborate on briefly. The first is human interruption. By human interruption I mean our choices to ignore the Word of God directly, or to attempt to accomplish God’s Word in sinful ways.

By God’s Plan I mean His revealed will in the Word. These could be summarized in the two great commandments (see Matt. 22:36-40). The Scriptures also teach that God has a Will that is sure and will be accomplished. This plan takes into account “human interruption,” such as the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (see Acts 2:23 and 4:28).

We need to keep those two ideas in mind as we work through this chapter. So, the account begins with a simple statement: Sarai cannot bear Abram any children (remember 11:30). Sarai has a slave, Hagar, an Egyptian woman. This comes out of nowhere, but it will have enormous importance for the rest of human history.

Now we come to the problem: Sarai is barren. God promised that Abram would have a child, and Sarai reasons that perhaps she could give Abram her slave to bear a child in her place.

A. Human reason fails to understand the plans of God—Since the LORD has prevented me from bearing children

The first issue with human reason is that it fails to understand the plans of God. Now, it was true that God prevented Sarai from bearing children. While we do not know why, He does. But it is equally true that God promised Abram would have a child (15:4). Sarai acknowledges the first part, and seemingly agrees with the second part. However, she fails to grab the unwritten part from Gen. 2:24.

Human reason fails to understand the plans of God. We see this in our own lives. We need to provide for our families, and so we take a job that may prevent us from attending church. We reason that we cannot help others because we have no idea what might happen. We think we should change something in the church in order to attract a certain age of people.

B. Human reason fails to understand the timing of God—after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years

Abram had lived in Canaan for about ten years, which would bring him to around 85 years old (cf. 12:4). In other words, it had been a while since the initial promises God provided Abram in Gen. 12:1-3.

It was taking too long! It made sense to Sarai to incorporate a regular, cultural way to handle her barrenness. But human reason fails to understand the timing of God (Gal. 4:4). We will see the timing of God’s fulfillment in chapter 21. God’s timing is perfect, and it does not go with our view of life. Hebrews 11:11 picks this up, too.

When believers fail to trust the Word of God, we interrupt His plans and bring unnecessary pain on ours and others’ lives.

C. Human reason often looks logical but is unbiblical—gave her to Abram as a wife

It made sense to Abram and to Sarai that he proceed with this plan. Often, human reason looks this way, too. For example, in the present day view of marriage, if she fails to make me happy, then I should look for happiness elsewhere. Or, it makes sense to me that I do not forgive him because of what he did to me. The problem with this is though it looks reasonable and logical on the surface, it is unbiblical.

When believers fail to trust the Word of God, we interrupt His plans and bring unnecessary pain on ours and others’ lives.

II. Human Interruption Harms People- 16:4-6

We also see that human interruption harms people. Abram listens to Sarai and conceives a child. Sarai realizes this, and Hagar takes advantage of it. She rubs it in Sarai’s face.

Sarai’s plan blows up in her face, and as a result, experiences the pain with the realization that she was barren and this slave was not. Sarai, rather than responding with repentance, blames Abram for this!

Ironically, Sarai’s plan ultimately turns around and hurts her. For years she has been a faithful wife to Abram, even following his request to deceive for him (see 12:10-20). For years, Sarai has been told this promise from God that Abram would be a father of many nations. And for years Sarai was barren. Then, in what seemed to be a good idea, Sarai suffered watching her slave conceive.

In addition, Hagar will be hurt. She is slave, to begin with, which brings its own difficulties. In addition, she was Egyptian, meaning she was away from home (12:10-20). She was in an unknown land with people she probably knows little. Sarai also mistreats her. She treats her like a slave, demeaning her, so severely that Hagar flees.

Furthermore, Abram was hurt. He just married Hagar, and now has a child with her. Now he gives the choice of what to do with them to Sarai, who treats Hagar terribly, so terribly that she runs away.

Human interruptions harm people. Think about the various exhortations Paul gives to the Ephesians in chapter 5 and 6. When a husband does not love his wife as Christ loved the church, he is interrupting the plan of God. He can be unkind with his words, gruff with his actions, and even physically abusive. This hurts the relationship between husband and wife, as well as any potential children.

Or, think of the children and parent relationship. What is the child is completely rebellious and refuses to listen to the parents? The home is characterized as chaotic. The human interruption of rebellion hurts parents and the child (and other children).

Or, what about an employer-employee relationship? When the two obey the Lord and follow His ways, everything is fine. When they interrupt His plans (for a variety of reasons) it hurts both. The boss can become exasperated, the employee unruly and/or unproductive.

Human interruptions harm others. What interruptions are you engaging in that are hurting others?

When believers fail to trust the Word of God, we interrupt His plans and bring unnecessary pain on ours and others’ lives.

III. Human Interruption Does Not Hinder God’s Plan—it advances it- 16:7-16

We come to the last section, and we see that human interruption does not hinder God’s plan. This is a comforting portion of Scripture. When we interrupt God’s plans, we may feel as if God’s plans have been foiled. But the truth of Scripture is that God providentially guides all history, sinful and righteous alike, for His glorious purpose.

Hagar flees, a runaway slave and a pregnant woman, with everything working against her. Perhaps she is attempting to return to Egypt (the way she is heading), but we do not know. We do know she is stranded in the wilderness, alone, without water, and depressed, all as the result of human interruption.

A. Though harmed by humans, God cares about Hagar- 7-8

If you notice, Abram and Sarai both refer to Hagar as “my slave” or “your slave,” never by her name. God speaks to her (the first woman post Eden, by the way) and addresses her by her name. He finds her, which implies that he goes and looks for her (sound similar to Adam and Cain?).

God inquires about her predicaments, and Hagar answers. God cares about Hagar, though she was harmed by Sarai’s interruption.

B. Though harmed by humans, God protects Hagar- 9-10

Now, this seems odd that God would send Hagar back, does it not? She was a slave, it seems God would want her to be free. In addition to that, Sarai mistreated her, so much that it drove a pregnant woman to flee into the wilderness. But God takes care of the oppressed. The Scriptural evidence of this is astounding, so we will not spend time dwelling on it. What I want you to see, however, is that God cares about people.

This is comforting, because I would argue that all of us have been hurt by others. God sees it, as Hagar realizes, and that is comforting.

C. Though harmed by humans, God promises good to Hagar- 11-12

God promised Abram he would become a father of a great nation, and his offspring would be as numerous as the sand and stars (13:16 and 15:4-5). Ishmael will be his name, and his name means God hears. Hagar prays to God and God hears (a remarkable contrast between this slave and her mistress and master).

Ishmael will be a tough man, perhaps do to his experiences. God promises that Ishmael will have an enormous amount of offspring (though this is highly simplistic, many of the Arabians are descendents of Ishmael).

D. Though harmed by humans, God reveals Himself to Hagar- 13-16

God hears and sees Hagar, and she responds by naming God (the only individual in the OT to do so). Here is a slave, unrecognized by her owners and mistreated and abused, and she knows God. What a testimony to the grace of God!

I. Human Interruption Comes Through Human Reasoning- 16:1-3

II. Human Interruption Harms People- 16:4-6

III. Human Interruption Does Not Hinder God’s Plan- 16:7-16

Before we end our time tonight, Paul picks up this human interruption and applies it to the covenants God has, and the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But for now, we are dealing with this passage as it appears in the narrative of the first book of the Bible.

When believers fail to trust the Word of God, we interrupt His plans and bring unnecessary pain on ours and others’ lives, but our interruptions are providentially a part of God’s plans though we cannot see it.