Studies
by Ray Stedman – It All Depends on Me
GOD’S WAY OR THE HARD WAY? GENESIS 16:1-16 – by Sonny Islas
Listen to the audio presentation of this teaching (and others as well!) here.
In GENESIS 16 we’ll find that we can either do things God’s Way or we can do things
our way (which then leads to learning the hard way). God made a promise to
Abram (which automatically includes his wife Sarai because they are
one; MATTHEW 19:5) that He would bless them with a child (aka the Son of Promise).
But because Sarai was unable to bear children, she devised an evil plan that
painfully flopped. Sadly, Sarai and Abram had to learn the
hard way because impatience and desire took the place of God’s way and timing.
BUT The BIG PICTURE is not Sarai’s and
Abram’s failure and their consequences. The BIG PICTURE here and in all
of the OT is God’s plan to bring His Son into the world
through this family! The main point of even this wild scenario is JESUS,
the One who is coming to save! As we stretch this story out, it’s all about
Jesus. This is Jesus’ family history.
GENESIS 16
[vs 1] “she
had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar”
Who is this
Hagar and where did she come from? Hagar almost certainly became part of
Abram’s crowd in GEN 12:16 where Abram lied to Pharaoh about
Sarai being his sister when she was really his wife and in return was
“rewarded” with Hagar who then sparked a family feud(became a problem).
Hagar was
the result of Abram’s lie. One
act of sin (Abram’s lie) can lead to a long-lasting regrettable
problem (Hagar).
Egypt is
symbolic for the world; at times we as Christians look to or flirt with the world and bring back a
Hagar (a severe problem into our lives).
For example, men
and woman who view the world’s perversion (porn) bring that
problem (Hagar) into their marriage.
Some Christians
have gone into the world to find a spouse (when the God clearly forbids it; 1 COR 7:39) and that unbelieving spouse becomes a Hagar (problem).
[vs 2] “The LORD has restrained
me from having children.” Sarai was humble enough and theologically
correct enough to understand that God alone is the creator of human
life and is in full control of a woman’s womb.
In GENESIS 20:18 God is known to shut the womb and in GENESIS 29:31, God is known to open the womb.
But
Sarai was blind to the fact that God was going to use her young and old
age barrenness in an incredible way! It was when Sarai
could no longer scheme or naturally have a
baby (90 yrs old) when God came through to show Himself
Mighty!
Sometimes, God will allow us to scheme
and squirm, try, fail and fold (even brake) before He
sends down the blessing. This way we don’t try and take any credit for His
magnificent work. Sometimes we’re too strong and clever for God to bless us. In
2 COR 12:9 The LORD tells Paul “My power is made perfect in weakness."
“Please
go into my maidservant perhaps I shall
obtain children by her”
Using surrogate
Mothers was a customary practice in the Middle East. Sarai just wanted children
at any and all cost, even by encouraging her husband to sin by sleeping with Hagar and
trying to get the child of promise some other way.
The tragic part
is that Abram rolled (agreed) with the scheme. The reason why, was
because they both wanted a child and became impatient. They
figured they’ll 'help God out' since He was a little slow.
Abram knew very
well that when God promised him a son, that it would be through his wife
Sarai BUT “Abram heeded the voice of Sarai”.
This sounds just like Adam’s problem, who heeded the voice of His wife Eve instead of God!
Abram and Adam must be related somehow!
We are called to obey God above everyone, even our spouse.
We are called to obey God above everyone, even our spouse.
In LUKE 14:26, Jesus put it this
way, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and
mother, wife and children, brothers and
sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” In
other words, our love for JESUS should surpass all other loves and that love is
mainly expressed through obedience to His Word.
[vs 3-4] “And
when Sarai saw that Hagar had gotten pregnant, Sarai became hated in Hagar’s
eyes”.
Instead of
Hagar becoming pregnant on behalf of Sarai with a loving attitude (a good
surrogate mother), Hagar became prideful and disrespectful towards Sarai (the baby got to her head). Hagar: “Ha-ha, I’m pregnant and
you’re not!” Hagar looked down on Sarai and rubbed her 'baby bump' in her face.
Also, regarding
the ability to have children: Now Sarai knows for sure that the problem was her
and not Abram. A bad state of affairs just got worse!
When we
do things our way instead of God’s way, instead of looking to God, we
multiply our problems.
Sarai had
one problem, she was barren. But due to her impatience and scheming, her one problem
became two problems: 1) barrenness - no baby and 2) Hagar (intense
jealousy towards Hagar). Sarai’s evil (HEB 3:12) scheme backfired, and it turned her into
an envious monster. Plus, the slave women Hagar now thinks she’s a queen and is
now also a reminder of their impatience and failure. At times, we too are good
at turning one problem into two and even more!
Some
fall into debt – so they pull out a loan pay off the debt; now they’re
in more debt.
Some have rough
marriages – so they run away with another; now they
have a home full of broken hearts, full of confusion, frustration, regret,
shame, guilt, and a long trail of many other consequences that are yet to come: like boundaries and split families with slip occasions, who’s allowed to the birthday parties, to holiday get-togethers, etc.
Some lose their
job then become anxious, depressed – so they start popping pills, start
drinking; now, they’re addicted, down and out and worse
off.
Someone in the
church gives us an attitude – so we leave the church; now, we’re home,
out of fellowship, robbed from blessings, vulnerable to Satan’s attacks,
disobedient to God and so on . . .
When we find
ourselves in problem #1, we are to look to God, trust in God, wait on God, we
are to suffer patiently for the glory of God (1 PET 2:20), we don’t give into problem #2, #3 and
so on.
When we devise
an evil plan to fix problem #1 be assured that problem #2 is already at the
door. Just like it was for Sarai and Abram.
Remember this: The more you fill your heart with God’s Word and ways (instead of ignoring it like Sarai and Abram) the better chances you have in walking in obedience (PROV 4:23).
Remember this: The more you fill your heart with God’s Word and ways (instead of ignoring it like Sarai and Abram) the better chances you have in walking in obedience (PROV 4:23).
[vs 5] “Then
Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you!”
Sarai’s sin
seems to really be catching up to her (agreed?). It was her evil
plan but now she’s blaming her husband (sounds like Adam (who blamed God) and Eve (who blamed the snake).
Sarai was
unwilling to own up to her sin (wrong); she chose to throw Abram under
the bus instead. “Why did you listen to me dummy! You’re the head of the
house! You’re the leader! God spoke to you directly! Why did you agree with
me?!” She was being unfair, but I believe she spoke out of her own frustration.
It was, after all, a tough situation.
[vs 6] “When
Sarai dealt harshly with her with Hagar, she fled from her presence.’’
Had Hagar been
kind and compassionate towards Sarai, maybe Sarai would have never chased Hagar
away. Sarai resorted to a let’s get even attitude. Notice, Hagar fled,
specifically “from her” – Sarai.
Ironically or
should I say sovereignly, Hagar means ‘’flight’’ and Sarai means
princess. So, the princess made her slave take flight – she ran away. Which
means that Hagar was probably treated good by Abram (maybe too good?).
[vs 7] “Now the
angel of the LORD found her”
This is a
beautiful picture of the Good Shephard who looks for that lost sheep. Saria chased Hagar away but God
who is rich in mercy goes after her and brings her back.
This Angel of
the LORD is known as a Christophany, a pre-incarnate Christ.
For examples of Christophanies/Theophanies in Scripture, check out this article from GOTQUESTIONS.org.
We know that He’s more than an Angel because in verse 13 Hagar calls Him “The GOD who sees” and a mere angel would reject that Name like the angel John accidentally worshiped in REV 22:8-9 “Don’t do that! I’m a servant like you! Worship God!”
For examples of Christophanies/Theophanies in Scripture, check out this article from GOTQUESTIONS.org.
We know that He’s more than an Angel because in verse 13 Hagar calls Him “The GOD who sees” and a mere angel would reject that Name like the angel John accidentally worshiped in REV 22:8-9 “Don’t do that! I’m a servant like you! Worship God!”
[vs 8-9] “Return and
submit yourself to her hand”
A moment ago,
we talked about problem #1 – Hagar’s problem #1 was Sarai and God tells her to
go back instead and trust Him there. He knew that Hagar was headed for problem
#2 etc.
The LORD may
command us to stay in problem #1 because He knows the outcome and for us to
just trust in Him when we’re in debt, when we’re in a rough marriage, when we
lose our job, when we’re mistreated by a church member etc. Our God is a God of
reconciliation when it’s possible and all things are possible with God!
[vs 10] “I will
multiply your descendants exceedingly”
In other words,
“I’m going to bless your socks off with this son of yours. Even though Sarai wanted
to cut you off, I’m going to bring you back and add to you.”
[vs 11] “Behold,
you are with child and you shall bear a son” (How did He know? Was He
invited to the gender revealing party?)
You shall call
His name Ishmael (which means "God hears") because the LORD has heard your affliction.
This shows us
that Hagar cried out to God for help and the LORD saw how Sarai mistreated
Hagar. God sees it all and He cares for us all – even when we’re bratty like
Hagar.
[vs 12] "He
will be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand
against him."
God held
nothing back. He clearly told her that her son was going to be wild and as
stubborn as a donkey.Ismael is known to be the father the Arabs (today
there twenty two Arab countries today) – God was good as His word.
So, Abram is
the father of Israel and the Arabs. The Israelis and the Arabs are brothers (both descendants of Shem, of the Semitic race).
And the Arabs, for the most part, hate Israel today.
[vs 13] “She
called the name of the LORD who spoke to her. You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she
said, 'Have I also here seen Him who sees me'?”
In Hagar’s
affliction, she was able to see the LORD (though not in His full glory). In our
affliction, trials and bad situations, when we cry out to God, we are able to
see Him in a better light through eyes of faith.
Also, she gave
Him an awesome Name “The God who sees.” If Hagar ever doubted that God watched
over her and cared for her, those doubts were now gone!
Lastly, GAL 4:21-31 tells us that Hagar and Sarai were symbolic for slavery and
freedom (Law and grace).
GALATIANS 4:21-31
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Hagar represents all who are under the
law (all who are self-righteous/plus false religion and works based
salvation) and Sarai represents all who are saved by grace, who trust in
Jesus alone for salvation by faith.
Hagar = works
and Sarai = faith.
Which makes perfect sense because Abram went into Hagar instead of waiting on God to provide the son of promise through Sarai which is taking salvation in a sense into our own hands. Because the Savior was to come through Sarai not Hagar.
For an examination of the Law vs. the Grace of GOD here is a two part series:
Where Are You, Law or Grace? Part ONE
Where Are You, Law or Grace? Part TWO
Which makes perfect sense because Abram went into Hagar instead of waiting on God to provide the son of promise through Sarai which is taking salvation in a sense into our own hands. Because the Savior was to come through Sarai not Hagar.
For an examination of the Law vs. the Grace of GOD here is a two part series:
Where Are You, Law or Grace? Part ONE
Where Are You, Law or Grace? Part TWO
No comments:
Post a Comment