20130805 Monday, August 5 2013
Genesis 16: The LORD's Seed Promise To Hagar

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

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

Although it is often incorrectly portrayed as such, Abram, later renamed as Abraham, did not favor Isaac over his other children. Abram merely recognized and accommodated the purpose and responsibility that the Messianic line would serve. The LORD God, Who not only chose the Messianic line through Isaac, but was later born as the Messiah from that line (see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God), never played favorites either. Salvation is a means of opportunity for all of humanity.

Hagar was an Egyptian handmaid of Abram's wife Sarai (who was later renamed as Sarah). Although Sarai was surely aware of the LORD's promise to Abram that he would have children (see Genesis 15: The Exodus Prophecy and The LORD's Seed Covenants With The Two Men Of Iraq), Sarai grew impatient. "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."

"16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

16:2 And 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." (Genesis 16:1-2 KJV)

So it was that, ten years after arriving from Iraq (see Genesis 12: Abram's Mission and Camped Out In Canaan), Hagar became another lawful wife of Abram, as arranged by Sarai.

"16:3 And 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." (Genesis 16:3 KJV)

The trouble between Sarai and Hagar began "when she saw that she had conceived."

"16:4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes." (Genesis 16:4 KJV)

Sarai felt very threatened by the situation. She made a surprising demand to Abram: "the LORD judge between me and thee."

"16:5 And 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." (Genesis 16:5 KJV)

Abram refused to favor anyone, leaving the situation with Hagar in the hands of Sarai - in effect, making Sarai judge and accuser. "And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face."

"16:6 But 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." (Genesis 16:6 KJV)

It was without doubt a sorrowful situation for everyone. The LORD however not only didn't forsake Hagar, He made a profound promise to her: "I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude." It would be fulfilled, beginning with and by her yet-unborn son of Abram: "Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction."

"16:7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

16:8 And 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.

16:9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

16:10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

16:11 And 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.

16:12 And 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." (Genesis 16:7-12 KJV)

There are not many people that the LORD spoke to personally, but Hagar was one of them.

"16:13 And 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?

16:14 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered." (Genesis 16:13-1 KJV)

Sarai must have been made aware of the LORD's command for Hagar to return, thereby over-ruling Sarai's treatment of Hagar. They did not "live happily ever after" together, as we will cover in subsequent studies in this series, but Hagar returned and "bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael." Notice that Abram was not the originator of Ishmael's name - he named him Ishmael because the LORD had commanded it to Hagar, as we read above ("Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael").

"16:15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

16:16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram." (Genesis 16:15-16 KJV)

Fact Finder: What part did the LORD's "seed" promise to Hagar fulfill the LORD's "seed" promise to Abram/Abraham?
See Abraham's Seed: From The Nile To The Euphrates