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Genesis 16

1
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2
Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my servant. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
3
Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.
4
He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5
Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, she despised me. May the LORD judge between me and you.”
6
But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.
7
The LORD’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur.
8
He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.”
9
The LORD’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.”
10
The LORD’s angel said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, that they will not be counted for multitude.”
11
The LORD’s angel said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your affliction.
12
He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposed to all of his brothers.”
13
She called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?”
14
Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15
Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
16
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter traces the unfolding consequences of human impatience in response to divine promise, as Sarai attempts to secure offspring through her servant Hagar. The narrative centers on Hagar’s flight and divine encounter, highlighting God’s care for the marginalized while reaffirming aspects of his covenantal purposes even amid human failure.

Flow.

  • The chapter opens with Sarai’s barrenness and her proposal that Abram conceive a child through Hagar, which he accepts.
  • Hagar conceives, leading to tension: her altered attitude toward Sarai results in mistreatment and her flight into the wilderness.
  • The Lord appears to Hagar through his angel, instructing her to return, promising numerous descendants through a son to be named Ishmael, and revealing his awareness of her suffering.
  • Hagar responds with worship, names God as “the God who sees,” and gives birth to Ishmael, whom Abram acknowledges at age eighty-six.

Connections.
Following chapter 15, where God reaffirms his covenant promises to Abram in a vision, chapter 16 reveals the difficulty of waiting in faith when fulfillment seems delayed. The failure of Sarai and Abram to trust God’s timing contrasts with the faith-credited righteousness of the prior chapter. Yet the narrative does not abandon hope, as God still meets Hagar and blesses Ishmael, pointing forward to chapter 17, where God will redefine the covenant with new signs and promises, distinguishing Isaac as the child of promise while still acknowledging Abraham’s other sons.

What it teaches.
God remains active and faithful even when his people act out of unbelief. Sarai’s plan reflects pragmatic reasoning, yet undermines divine promise, leading to strife (WCF 7.1–2). Still, the Lord shows compassion to Hagar, a woman of low status, revealing himself as one who sees and hears affliction (LBCF 2.1; HC LD 10). The promise to multiply Ishmael’s descendants indicates God’s sovereign grace extends beyond the elect line (Canons of Dort I.13), yet his role is distinguished from that of Isaac, the son of promise (WCF 16.7). The name Ishmael — “God hears” — underscores divine attentiveness to suffering (WCF 3.4), even as the prophecy of conflict hints at future unrest.

Apply.
When pressed by delay and pain, trust that God sees and hears, and waits to act according to his promise.

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