16. SARAI ASSISTS GOD

Genesis 16
First: Abraham was now 85 and Sarai was 75 years old. Throughout their half-century marriage, Sarai had no competitors. She and her husband had accepted their childlessness from the Lord. Sarai might have just begun experiencing menopause, and she couldn't believe she would have children anymore. (Menopause might have occurred later at a time when people lived twice as long as they do now.) The Lord had just assured Abram that he would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Verses 1-2. Hagar was apparently given as a gift from Pharaoh. Her age could have been 20-25 years. There was a significant age difference between her and Abraham.

• Imagine what Hagar's childhood and youth were like as a slave in Pharaoh's Egypt.

• Hagar's parents were probably left in Egypt; perhaps they were slaves as well. How might it have felt for Hagar to be separated from her family and homeland?

• Originally, Hagar worshipped Egyptian gods and idols. How might Abraham's family's worship at the altars of sacrifice have influenced her? (What might have surprised her in those rituals?)

• Consider why Sarai chose this particular slave girl from among dozens of slaves; what qualities might have made her suitable for bearing Abraham's child?

• What dreams might Hagar have had about her marriage before Sarai's proposal?

• Surely Sarai had heard of her husband the promise that was mentioned in the previous chapter. What did she think about it?

• What do you think about Sarai's decision – how can it be defended, and in what way is it difficult to understand?

• What might the Lord have expected Sarai to do in this situation?

• In your opinion, how did Abram handle his responsibility as the head of the family in this situation?
Verses 3-4

• Consider the feelings and relationships of these three people after Abram had a sexual relationship with his maidservant. What was most challenging for each of them?

• Were Abram's feelings involved? What about Hagar's?

• What do you think are the chances of success in a polyamorous or “open” marriage, where there can be more than one spouse or sexual partner?
Verses 5-6

• What do you think about Sarai's outburst in verse 5?

• Look at Abraham's response to his wife in verse 6. What can we see about his relationship with these two women and the unborn child?

• What kind of chastening might have caused pregnant Hagar to flee into the desert? (What might have been Hagar's sin that led Sarai to treat her harshly?)

• How might Hagar have thought she and her child would survive when she fled from Abraham's camp?

• What do you think Abraham and Sarai were thinking during the time Hagar was away from the camp?
Verses 7-9
The way to Shur led through the Negev toward Egypt. We don't know how far Hagar had already walked along it.

• Why did Hagar only answer the angel's first question?

• Why didn't the angel set Hagar free from slavery but instead told her to return and accept her situation? (What good things resulted for Hagar and her child by returning to Abraham's camp?)

• Why does the Lord lead His people into situations where they must humble themselves and accept their lot? (What have you learned from such situations?)
Verses 10-11. Ishmael became forefather to 12 tribes, just like Jacob. His name means “God hears”.

• Why did the Lord want to make a great nation out of Ishmael?

• How is it evident that Hagar no longer believed in the Egyptian gods?

• What does it mean for a suffering person to realize that someone has heard their cry?

• What did Ishmael's name mean to his mother for all the years to come?
Verse 12

• What do you think Hagar thought when she heard the prophecy about her son?

• Ishmael became the forefather of the Arabs. What does verse 12 reveal about their mentality?
Verses 13-14. Hagar believed herself to be completely alone during her flight.

• What do you think of the name Hagar gave to Abram’s God?

• What change occurred in Hagar's relationship with God during her flight?

• How do we see that God loved Hagar and her son?

• Do you think Sarai continued to mistreat Hagar when she returned to the camp? Explain your opinion.
Verses 15-16. Hagar told Abram what had happened in the desert and what name their child was to be given.

• What do you think Abram might have thought about God's promise after hearing Hagar's story? Look again at the Lord's words to Hagar in verse 10.

• Certainly, Abram was emotionally attached to his son. What might Hagar's relationship with Sarai have been like after the child was born? (Why didn't Ishmael become Sarai's adoptive son, compare to verse 2?)
Concluding questions:

• Sarai ultimately regretted the whole episode with Hagar. Reflecting on this chapter, what should a person do when one sees the consequences from their wrong choices?

• How can God turn even the consequences of our wrong choices and sins into something good for us?
Finally: God has heard your cries too. He has seen all the harm done to you, but also the harm you have done to others. For this very reason, he wants to send his angels to show you the way you must walk. You will have to humble yourself and confront your sins, but at the same time, God's grace in Christ will become even more precious to you.

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