Chapter 16.
The Birth of a Boy
GETTING AHEAD OF GOD—16:1-3
It has been ten years now, and Abram and Sarai still have no children. Impatience and frustration begin to tease Sarah's heart as seen in her first recorded words (16:2). Is God going to keep His promise? How can He give us a child, when we are so old? Maybe we need to help the Lord out! Have you ever been caught in this trap? Believe me, the Lord doesn't need our help. He can do exactly what He has said He will do. Sarai offers to give Abram her handmaiden as a wife and she would act as a surrogate mother for Sarai. As they try to help God out, they only make things worse. The same usually happens to us too. When we lack faith in God's Word and compromise because of our impatience and "I want it NOW" attitude, we only create a big mess and further problems for ourselves. The problems in the Middle East today can be traced to this very incident. May we learn from Abram's mistake and realize what happens when we get ahead of the Lord. God wants us to learn to wait upon Him and for His timing in the matters of our life.
Childlessness
One key reason for Abram and Sarai getting ahead of God was the stigma of being childless. In Bible times, sterility was considered a trial or chastisement from the Lord (Gen. 20:18) because of some form of disobedience to the Lord or being under a curse of God (Deut. 7:14; Lev. 20:20, 21). If a man was married for several years and his wife still had no children, he might be nicknamed "Father of Nothing".
In ancient Israel, to have children was considered a great honor and blessing. Children were considered the crown of a man (Proverbs 17:6) and a great reward (Psalm 127:3-5). Respect for the wife increased in the family after the birth of the first child, especially if it was a son (Gen. 29:31-30:24). If a couple was sterile, the wife was to blame (Deut. 7:14). Her reputation was at stake. Giving birth to a child was of great importance to the Bedouin women. At the wedding ceremony, Bedouins would wish their friends to have many children in their lifetime. They would split open a pomegranate and drop the grains on the threshold of the door of the tent. The grains symbolized fruitfulness in having children. A variety of methods were employed to overcome bareness in Bible days. One way was to change the diet (30:14-16). Rachel wanted mandrakes from Leah. This plant was considered to produce fertility. Some Palestinians worshiped Ashtoreth, the Canaanite goddess of sexual love, maternity, and fertility. Others wore amulets of pregnant women. They believed by holding and rubbing them, they would eventually look like them. A common practice in overcoming bareness was adoption. An infant or adult could be adopted. Abram referred to his servant in Genesis 15 as a possible heir. The adopted child would care for the parents in their old age, provide a proper burial, and inherit the family property. For this reason, boys were preferred over girls. In fact, it was not uncommon for newborn baby girls to be left out in the open to die from exposure or to be sold into slavery. Rachel adopted the children of Bilhah and Jacob considered Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own (Gen. 30 and 48). Another method in obtaining children was the practice of polygamy.
Polygamy
God's original plan for marriage was one husband for one wife according to the example of Adam and Eve. However, this plan was not followed by some in Bible times. Wealthy men and kings were known to have more than one wife. Kings practiced polygamy for political reasons, sealing covenants by marrying the daughter of an ally king. Many Bedouins followed the Code or Laws of Hammurabi in the Middle East region. It reveals that a wife in Babylonia could give her slave girl as a second wife to her husband in order to have children by that servant. The slave would fill the role of surrogate mother and her children would belong to her mistress. Under Hammurabi's laws, it states that a husband can't take a second wife unless the first wife is barren. He loses the right to take a second wife if the wife gives him a slave to be his concubine. A husband could take a concubine even if the wife had given birth to children, but the concubine did not have the same rights as a wife. He could not take another concubine unless the first concubine was barren.
Polygamy was practiced for several reasons. Some, as we have seen, took another wife because the first wife was barren. Some men had a desire for many children or more servants. If daughters were born to a wife only, a man might take another to try to have sons.
Polygamy did have its many problems. There was the problem of competition and jealousy among the wives as the husband might show favoritism for one over the other. In fact, the Hebrew word for the second wife meant "rival wife". When children were born, which one would be considered as the firstborn was a problem that had to be dealt with. A father might not be as kind or generous to the child of a wife who was disliked or not favored. Grown sons sometimes would have adulterous relationships with the concubines of their father as Reuben did (Gen. 35:22). Jacob's home was filled with stress and tension as he married two wives and their handmaidens. Esau had three wives and Gideon had many wives too. No limit seems to have been put on the number of wives or concubines a man could have. Yet, in later years, the Talmud fixed the number of wives at four for a subject and eighteen for a king. Only the wealthy could afford this situation. Most families were monogamous.
Persuasiveness In Genesis
Sometimes the most intense temptations can come from the mouths of the ones we are closest to and love dearly. In Abram's case, Sarai's first recorded words are very compelling and convincing and persuade Abram to have children through her slave. She may have honestly and sincerely felt that maybe this is the way the Lord was going to work since he had not yet revealed that the children would come from her. Yet, they both still should have waited on God's direction and leading as they had done in the past. Sarai's position in her home is a powerful position. The husband has a position of power and authority. The wife has a position of persuasion and can help or hurt her husband by her persuasiveness. Women can sometimes see things that we might overlook or not detect such as Pilate's wife who warned Pilate concerning the judgment of Christ. Sarai used her reasoning to persuade Abram to take another wife which turned out to be a very costly mistake. It was a custom of that day, yet, Abram would have been wise to pray about this decision and see if this is what God intended for him to do. Frustration, restlessness, impatience, pride, and discouragement are not a good formula for making a wise decisions.
God has enabled each of us to be able to persuade certain people in our lives. May we not abuse our abilities to lead people astray, but to encourage them to do right and to serve the Lord. May God help us to persuade men and women to receive Christ as their Savior.
Throughout the book of Genesis we find many examples of persuasiveness.
- To Consume—Eve persuades Adam to eat the fruit. 3:6
- In Childbirth—Sarah persuades Abram to have children through Hagar. 16:1-3
- To Comply—Abraham persuades his household to be circumcised as God commands. 17:23
- To Cancel—Abraham persuades God to spare His judgment from Sodom and Gomorrah if there were ten righteous people in those cities. 18:32
- To Comfort—Lot persuades the angels to stay in his home with him overnight. 19:3
- To Continue—Lot persuades the angels to let him stay in Zoar. 19:21
- To Conspire—Lot's firstborn daughter persuades her sister of a plan to get her father drunk and to become impregnated by him. 19:31
- Of Chastity—Abimelech pleads his innocence to God. 20:5
- To Commit—Abraham's servant persuades Laban to let Rebekah come with him to be a wife to Isaac. 24:51, 56
- In finding a Consort—Isaac commands Jacob to not marry a wife from Canaan. 28:1
- To Creep Out—Jacob persuades his wives that it is time to depart from Laban while he is away. 31:16
- To be Circumcised—Jacob's sons persuade the men of Shechem to be circumcised. 34:18
- To Cast—Reuben persuades his brothers to throw Joseph into a pit and sell him into slavery instead of killing him. 37:22
- To Capitulate—Judah persuades Jacob to let Benjamin go to Egypt as the ruler required. 43:8
- To Colonize—Pharaoh persuades Joseph's brothers to bring the entire family to Egypt. 45:19
THE STING OF BEING SPURNED—16:4, 5
It is no fun to be despised, spurned, or rejected, is it? The pain sometimes can be unbearable. Abram took Hagar for a wife and she conceived. Her position in the home seems to be elevated to a different level. The pregnant Hagar now despises and spurns mistress Sarai. Hagar's hatred and Sarai's jealousy formulate a very volatile situation. Sarai becomes so bitter and hurt that she passes the buck and blames Abram for the whole mess. This is the first time the word "despised" is used in the Bible and deals with the hatred for someone in authority. All throughout the Bible those in authority are despised. Hagar's hatred had an intimidating effect on Sarai. Parents, teachers, supervisors, etc., can sometimes be intimidated by the hatred and scoffing of those under their authority. How do they do this?
- By Disobeying
- By Arguing—verbal abuse
- By Sneering—hateful looks
- By Slamming—slamming doors
- By Lying-
- By Deceiving
- By Ignoring—The silent treatment and cold shoulders.
- By Hibernating—Some teens stay in their rooms and pout.
- By Mocking
We are to be subject to those who are over us. We may not always like it sometimes, but God says we are to obey and try to have the right attitude. Children are to obey their parents and honor them. A wise son hears his father's instructions (Eph. 6:1-3; Prov. 13:1)
Sarai in this situation reveals frustration, anger, resentment, and jealousy for Hagar. Hagar shows her disrespect, callousness, indifference, rudeness, and hatred. These traits were very destructive to these women. Hagar's hatred is one of several incidents in Genesis where people had hate in their life.
Hatred in Genesis
- Hatred for a Brother—Cain kills Abel. 4:8
- Hatred for a Boss—Hagar despises Sarai. 16:4
- Hatred for a Birthright—Esau hates his birthright. 25:34
- Hatred for a Bidder—Isaac was considered a rival, thus, the Philistines filled his wells. 26:15
- Hatred over a Blessing—Esau hates Jacob because of the stolen blessing. 27:41
- Hatred for a Bride—God opened Leah's womb when He saw she was hated. 29:31
- Hatred because of a father's Bias—Joseph is hated by his brothers who resent their father's favoritism for him. 37:4-8, 20; 49:23
Scriptural Insights on Hatred
- The Results of Hatred
- Darkness—He that hates his brother is in darkness. 1 John 2:9
- Destruction—He that hates his brother is a murderer. 1 John 3:15
- Deception—He that hates his brother is a liar. 1 John 4:20
- Death—He that hates reproof shall die. Proverbs 15:10
- Divine blessing of God upon the righteous—The righteous are blessed when hated for His name's sake. Luke 6:22
- Division—Hatred stirs up strife. Proverbs 10:12
- Desolation—Hate the righteous... you'll be desolate. Psalm 34:21
- Development of believers—Do good to those who hate us. Matt. 5:44
- Duration of life—Hating gifts or bribes prolongs life. Prov. 28:16
- Discernment—Marvel not if the world hates you. 1 John 3:13
- What the Righteous Should Hate
- Some Things That God Hates
RUNNING FROM YOUR PROBLEMS—16:6, 7
Sarai's temper explodes in the preceding verse and now her temper gets the best of her. Frustrated, hurt, and angry, she unleashes her anger upon Hagar. Based upon the Code of Hammurabi, Sarai could not sell Hagar. Instead, she takes revenge upon her and deals hardly with Hagar. The word "hardly" is the same word to describe the oppression of Israel in Egypt as described in Exodus 1:11, 12. It means "to humble, afflict, or mishandle". This is the kind of treatment Hagar was receiving. Hagar had sown hatred and now she is reaping it. The problems become so intense that Hagar decides to run away from home and from her responsibilities as a wife. It is interesting to note that Hagar's name is Hebrew, not Egyptian. It means "flight" perhaps because of Abram's flight from Egypt. It also means "to forsake or retire". Her name pictured some of the events that would happen in her life.
Why Do People Run From Their Problems?
- Facing conflicts are unpleasant to them.
- Fear of the results of the problems.
- Solutions may be unpleasant as they must face the truth.
- Sacrifice that might be involved in money or time.
- Feelings of embarrassment or guilt.
- Futile attitude—It is hopeless and they give up.
- Frantic—They don't know how to go about solving the problem.
- Frayed nerves—They do not want to deal with the problem.
- Feelings of bitterness and hurt.
The Results of Running From Your Problems
- Not Solved
- Sprouting of the problem—It continues to grow and fester.
- It Surfaces again in the future.
- No Success—defeatism
- Serenity is lacking—No peace
- Service to the Lord is hindered.
- Sensibleness and maturity is not properly developed in the life.
Steps in Dealing With Your Problems
- Surrender your rights to the Lord—Resignation
- Submit your will to the Lord—Subjugation
- Spirit's guidance is sought in prayer—Supplication
- Seek godly counsel—Exhortation
- Study Solutions in the Scriptures—Investigation
- Sincerity to Solve the problem is expressed—Communication
- Seek out the person to resolve the problem—Restoration
Hagar fled from Sarai and headed toward Egypt. The Angel of the Lord met her near a fountain of water in the way of Shur. The Angel of the Lord was an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. This is the first occurrence of the words "Angel of the Lord". The following are incidents where He appeared in the Bible.
Appearances of the Angel of the Lord
TWO VITAL QUESTIONS—16:8
The Angel of the Lord asks two vital questions to Hagar. These questions are relevant for us today. They are "Where did you come from?" and "Where are you going?" In response we find Hagar's first recorded words in Scripture.... "I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai." This wandering would characterize her descendants in the years to come. How about you? Where did you come from? No matter what your past, Christ has died for your sins and risen for you. He will forgive you and cleanse your life of sin so that when someone asks you, "Where are you going?", you can reply, "I am going to Heaven when I die!"
The Lord's counsel to Hagar was to return back home, face the problems, and submit to her master. This is the first time "submit" appears in the Scripture and is used with the relationship of a master and her servant. The word means "to abase or humble oneself and is also the same word used in verse six where it translated "hardly." The harsh treatment caused the problem and the solution was to submit. This is all wrapped up in the same word. In the New Testament, the word for submission is hupotasso. It is a military word which means "to rank under." God has a proper chain of authority that we should follow. We are to be in submission to the following people.
Submission in Genesis
Several examples of submission are found in Genesis.
- Sarah—The Angel of the Lord tells Hagar to submit to Sarai. 16:9
- Situation—Laban submits to the Lord's leading concerning Rebekah. 24:50
- Servant—Rebekah follows Abraham's servant. 24:58
- Sovereign God—Abraham submits to God and offers Isaac. 22:10
THE BIRTH OF THE ARAB NATIONS—16:10-12
The Lord promised to multiply the seed of Hagar exceedingly. God heard her affliction and would give her a son whose name would be Ishmael. The name Ishmael means "God hears." It is formed from the word shama which means "to hear" and El which means "God." Samuel's name is very similar to Ishmael's name. The Lord continues to give a prophecy of what Ishmael would be like and his descendants. He would be a wild ass man who would love freedom, scorn city crowds, live in the desert, and have an unconquerable spirit just like the desert onager who roams the desert at will. The Bedouins are a freedom loving people. The Arab people trace their ancestry to Abraham through Ishmael. Hagar would be the mother of the Arab nations. God heard her affliction revealing that God was listening to her prayers.
What does the Bible say about what God hears?
Some of the Things God Hears
Hagar confesses God with her mouth and calls upon the Lord. She knew that the Lord not only heard her, but was also watching over her. She calls the Lord by the name El Roi, which means "the God who sees". She names the well Beer-la-hai-roi in honor of the Lord. This means "The well of the Living One who seeth me" or "The well of continuing to live after seeing God". Hagar found great peace and comfort in the fact that God was watching over her. God is watching over us too. What does the Bible say about what the Lord sees?
What God Sees in Genesis
- Corruption—God saw the wickedness of man on earth. 6:5
- City—The Lord came to see the city and the tower. 11:5
- Cruelty—God saw the cruelty to Hagar. 16:13, 14
- Contempt—God saw Laban's treatment of Jacob. 31:12
- Calamity—God saw the afflictions of Jacob. 31:42
- Carnality—Er was wicked in the sight of the Lord. 38:7
Some of the Things that God Sees
Wells in Bible Times
Because of the scarcity of water in the desert, wells had to be dug. Hagar named her spring fed well, Beer-la-hai-roi. The Aramaic word for well is beera and the Hebrew word is beer.
Wells were constructed many times in dry river beds. They would be approximately four feet deep in these areas. Some wells, however, would be as deep as eighty feet. A low wall would be built around the opening of the well to prevent sand, debris, and animals from falling into the well. Stones were used to cover the well for this same purpose and to prevent evaporation. Some stones were huge and took several people to remove them. This was done to protect the water rights and keep one shepherd from not sharing. It was the custom of that day that all the flocks be gathered before the well was uncovered.
Water was so valuable and hard to get that some groups would conceal their wells with boards covered with sand. Bedouins would entertain strangers by giving them milk instead of water because of the abundance of milk. In the desert, the wells were the property of kings, princes, or chiefs of tribes. If you dug a well in the East, it gave you the title to unoccupied lands in that area. If a tribe did not want you to have the title to this land, they would choke the well by filling it with sand as in Isaac's case. This was very serious because it was considered an act of war.
To take water without permission was another serious offense. When a peaceful tribe entered through the lands of another tribe, they would usually be charged a small tax for grazing rights and for use of the wells. In difficult times, however, sometimes permission to pass through the land was not granted to the traveler.
Wells were a good investment. Water was sold for money and for sheep. Prior to World War I, water was sold in the streets of many cities in the Near East.
The well was an important place of social gatherings. If you wanted to know what was going on, the latest news or gossip, you would go to the well to find out. Families and travelers would gather there each morning and evening. If you were a single man looking for a young maiden, you would go to the well where you could meet and talk with them. It was usually the older, unmarried girls that came to fetch water at the well. A young man would talk with his beloved at the well. Moses and Jacob met their wives at the wells (Exodus 2:15-17; Genesis 29:2-12).
The Birth of Ishmael—16:15, 16
At the age of 86, Abraham becomes a father as Ishmael is born. God had heard his prayers he felt, yet, this was not God's plan for him as we will see later. His fellowship would be broken with the Lord for the next thirteen years.
The Birth of Children in Bible Times
Children were born in places that were not usually very sterile. The floors were of dirt and the water was not sanitary. Flies carrying diseases quickly would find these newborns. The death rate was very high with the first thirty days of the baby's life being very critical.
After the baby was born, the cord was cut and tied. Then the baby was washed with water and rubbed with salt. Palestinians believed this made the baby strong and made the skin harder, drier, tighter, and firmer (Ezekiel 16:4). The baby was then wrapped in swaddling clothes for about forty days. These strips of cloth were about five inches wide and eighteen feet in length. They would be wrapped tightly around the baby including the forehead and the chin. It was believed this would make the babies limbs grow straight and firm (Luke 2:12).
The Naming of the Child
Many times the name of a child revealed the circumstances of the family or nation at the time of birth. Some parents named their child in response to God's goodness to them. Rachel named her son Ben-Oni which means "Son of my sorrow." Jacob means "heel grabber" because he grabbed the heel of his twin brother. When Israel lost the ark to their enemies, a child born at this time was named Ichabod meaning "the glory is departed". Parents would sometimes name their babies after the first animal or plant they saw after the birth. For example, Caleb = dog; Rachel = sheep; Deborah = bee; Tamar = palm tree. A person could have their name changed when they grew up like Jacob, Abram, and Sarai did.
In the East, to name someone was to know them and have power and authority over that person. To know the name of a person is to be able to hurt them or do good to them. The name was believed to reveal the character and destiny of the person. The Pharaoh of Egypt gave Joseph a new name (Gen. 41:45) and Daniel was given a new name by the chief eunuch (Daniel 1:6, 7). Primitive people had taboo names and the Egyptians had secret names. When the child was named, it was usually given immediately after birth and was frequently chosen by the mother.
Outlines That Teach
Genesis Chapter 16
- A Childless Wife 16:1 Sarai still has no children.
- A Course of Complication 16:2
Sarai's plan to have children through Hagar brings great complications and problems in the family and for the future nation of Israel. When we get ahead of God, we only complicate matters.
- The Concubine 16:3
Hagar becomes Abram's concubine.
- The Conception of Hagar 16:4
Hagar is pregnant and despises her mistress.
- The Complaint of Sarai 16:5
Sarai blames Abram for all the problems in the family.
- The Caustic Treatment of Hagar 16:6
Sarai deals harshly with Hagar and she runs away from her mistress
- A Celestial Friend 16:7
The Angel of the Lord finds Hagar in the wilderness.
- The Cross-examination 16:8
The Angel of the Lord asks Hagar where she came from and where she is going?
- The Counsel 16:9
The Angel of the Lord counsels her to return and submit to Sarai.
- The Culmination of Hagar's Children 16:10
The Lord would multiply the seed of Hagar till it was without number.
- The Compassion of the Lord 16:11
The Lord heard the affliction of Hagar and blessed her with a child.
- The Characterization of Ishmael 16:12
Ishmael would be a wild man and hard to get along with.
- Calling the Name of the Lord 16:13
Hagar calls the Lord El Roi, the God who sees.
- Choosing a Name for the Well 16:14
The well is called Beer-la-hai-roi.
- Childbirth 16:15 Ishmael is born.
- The Continued Chronology of Abram's Life Abram is 86 when Ishmael is born.
Index Topics for Further Research
Anger, Angel of the Lord, Ahead of God, Brokenness, Cruelty, Eyes, Hatred, Guidance, I Will's of God, Obedience, Prophecy, Prayer, Submission, Family Situations, Wells, Frustration, Faint-hearted, Hypocrisy, Bitterness, Harshness, Courage, Callousness, Determination, Endurance, Indifference, Irresponsibility, Impatience, Jealousy, Meekness, Pride, Persuasiveness.
Review
Chapter 16
- What is the attitude toward childlessness in the Middle East?
- Describe the practice of polygamy in Bible times.
- In what ways are authorities intimidated?
- What are the results of hatred?
- Name eight things God hates.
- Why do people run from their problems?
- How should we deal with our problems?
- Name eight things God hears.
- Describe the wells of Bible times.
Mattoon's Treasures - Mattoon's Treasures – Treasures from Genesis.