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Summary

Genesis 16:1–6 – Hagar and a human plan

What happens: Sarai, barren, gives Hagar to Abram to obtain children. Hagar conceives and looks with contempt on Sarai. Sarai deals harshly with Hagar, and Hagar flees.

What it means: Impatience with God’s timing leads to harm. Using people to reach goals violates love and trust. Sin sows conflict in family and community.

Genesis 16:7–14 – The Lord sees Hagar

What happens: The angel of the Lord finds Hagar by a spring and tells her to return and submit. He promises many descendants through her son, Ishmael. Hagar names the Lord “God who sees me.”

What it means: God sees and cares for the vulnerable. His mercy reaches those on the margins. Promise and discipline can stand together under God’s compassion.

Genesis 16:15–16 – Ishmael’s birth

What happens: Hagar bears Ishmael to Abram when Abram is eighty-six. Abram names the child Ishmael.

What it means: God keeps His word even in complicated situations. Human shortcuts do not cancel God’s larger plan. The story moves forward under God’s watchful rule.

Application

  • Wait on God’s timing rather than forcing outcomes.
  • Treat others as image bearers, not tools for your plans.
  • Remember that God sees you when you feel unseen.
  • Submit to God’s path even when it is hard.

Bible

1Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

2And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

3And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

4And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

5And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

6But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

7And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

8And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

9And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

10And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

11And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.

12And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

13And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

14Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

15And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

16And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

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