Genesis 16 study

Let’s set the scene. Genesis 15 closes with the LORD’s covenant with Abram. 

“On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Now to us that is the next chapter, next page, but in Abram’s timeline this is 10 years later. 10. We know by two ways; 16:3 and 16:16. 

Let’s read the chapter together.

Let’s look at verse 3 again, this same language, in verse 3, took and gave can be found in Genesis 3.

“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

What are some parallels between these two stories? 

What does this tell us about the nature of sin and our choices? Ramifications in our lives today.

Hagar’s name means “flight, or, according to others, stranger,” according to Easton’s Bible dictionary. 

“He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the Lord judge between you and me.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Pronoun identification is important here. I’ve never really considered this before. 

“______went in to Hagar, and ______conceived; and when ______saw that ______ had conceived, ______ mistress was despised in ______ sight.”

Let’s be clear, Hagar had no choice, she is the victim. Consider her actions.

Sarai “But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭6‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬ (italics mine)

We find these same words in Exodus 1 as well as the promise God gives Abram in Genesis 15:13-17. 

“Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.” So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬ (italics mine)

“God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Moving on…

Angel of the LORD…let’s define. 

ךְ mălʼâk, mal-awk’; H4397 from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher):—ambassador, angel

(Just a side note… Malʼâkîy, mal-aw-kee’; from the same as H4397 (root); ministrative; Malaki, a prophet:—Malachi., .

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h4401/nasb95/wlc/0-1/ )

So, verses 7, 10, 11 all have this phrase, angel of the LORD. Yet, after the promise given to Hagar, she names the one who spoke to her. What does this name mean?

“Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

What does she believe after this interaction?

Let’s look at the promise given by the angel of the LORD:

“Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.” Moreover, the angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” The angel of the Lord said to her further, “Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has given heed to your affliction. He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone’s hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Let’s list the promises. 

As we close this chapter, what are some truths you want to remember? Is there anything for you, personally, in this chapter that challenges or inspires you?