Genesis 16 recounts the impatience of Abram and Sarah and the tragic consequences all of us experience when we fail to wait on the Lord.

1. An expositional study taught by
Harry Morgan

2. For those of you online post your comments or questions
in the “comment section” on your screen. As time
affords they may be read to the class.

3. Genesis 15 Abram is seen as the man of
faith, in chapter 16 as the man of unbelief. In
Genesis 15 he “believed in the Lord,” in
Genesis 16 he “hearkened to the voice of
Sarai.” There he walks after the Spirit, here
he acts in the energy of the flesh. Sad
inconsistency! But One could say, “I do
always these things that please Him” (John
8:29).
Pink, A. W. (2005). Gleanings in Genesis (p. 173).

4. 1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of
your country, from your family and from your
father’s house, to a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you
and make your name great; and you shall be a
blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I
will curse him who curses you; and in you all the
families of the earth shall be blessed.”
1. What 3 promises did God give to Abram in
Genesis 12:1-3?

5. 2. Of the 3 promises, which 2 promises are
threatened or challenged in Genesis 12 to
16? Explain how.
Ø Seed
Ø Soil

6. 2. Of the 3 promises, which 2 promises are
threatened or challenged in Genesis 12 to
16? Explain how.
Ø 12:1-9, a testing journey with a promise
(1-3) (choose God over ancestors)
Ø 12:10-20, Abram compromises Sarah in a
strange land (Egypt)
Ø 13a, Abram and Lot; strife over land
Ø 13b, Separation from Lot, a potential heir
Ø 13c, Divine promise of the land
Van Paranuk, www.cyber-chapel.org

7. 2. Of the 3 promises, which 2 promises are
threatened or challenged in Genesis 12 to
16? Explain how.
Ø 14, The Promise of Blessing to the Nations:
Abram and Lot; cities of the plain; covenants
with gentiles
Ø 15, God’s covenant with Abram: Land and
Seed
Ø 16a, Announcement of Ishmael’s Birth
Ø 16b, Birth of Ishmael (surprisingly, at the
center! At this point the reader expects that
Ishmael is the answer to the promise))

8. 3. What parallels do you find between Genesis
3 and Genesis 16?
Chapter 3 Chapter 16
The woman
proposes to take
something
forbidden.
6 2
The man “hearkens
to the voice of his
wife”
17 2
God asks someone a
question involving
location
9 “Where
art thou?”
8 “Whence
camest thou?
Whither wilt
thou go?”

9. 3. What parallels do you find between Genesis
3 and Genesis 16?
“to curse” (qālal) in 3:17; 16:4–5

10. 1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no
children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant
whose name was Hagar.
4. What do you think “now” refers to in vs. 1?
Genesis 15:4 And behold, the word of the LORD
came to him, saying, “This one shall not be
your heir, but one who will come from your
own body shall be your heir.”

11. 4. What do you think “now” refers to in vs. 1?

12. 5. What is Sarah’s predicament?
2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD
has restrained me from bearing children.
Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall
obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded
the voice of Sarai.

13. 5. What is Sarah’s predicament?
Ø Impatience
Ø Time lapse
Genesis 12:1-3 Abram is 75
Genesis 15:6 Abram is 85

14. 6. What did barrenness or infertility mean to
women in the Old Testament? (Gen. 1:28;
24:60; Ruth 4:11-12; Deut. 28:4, 11)
Ø Barrenness regarded as a great evil and a
divine punishment (19:31; 30:1, 23; Lev.
20:20).
Ø Fruitfulness regarded as a great good and a
divine blessing (21:6; 24:60; Ex. 23:26;
Deut. 7:14).

15. 7. What was Sarai’s proposal and what was her
expectation?
“surrogate motherhood”
2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD
has restrained me from bearing children.
Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall
obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded
the voice of Sarai.

16. 8. How were Abram and Sarai’s responses
similar and different in response to her
predicament?
2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD
has restrained me from bearing children.
Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall
obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded
the voice of Sarai. 3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife,
took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave
her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after
Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of
Canaan.

17. 9. Did Hagar become Abram’s legal wife?
Explain the consequences of this action.
3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her
maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her
husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram
had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.
Hebrew word can be used
in the sense of “wife” as
well as “concubine.”

18. 10. What was wrong with her proposal?
I may obtain (be builded) by her
• ‫ב‬‫ן‬ = build, is to become a house; to
become a house, is to obtain children,
a family.
• Hagar should enlarge Sarai: Hagar’s
child should be her child (see ch.
30:3).
“The faith of both was defective; not indeed with
regard to the substance of the promise, but with regard
to the method in which they proceeded” (Calvin).

19. 3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her
maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her
husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram
had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.
Legal according to family law
of the Hurrians at that time,
note also a Nuzian text
11. What regional customs, during this period,
governed marital relationships?

20. 12. Where did Hagar come from?

22. Ø God promised Abram children (Gen. 13:16, 15:5)
Ø Abram & Sarai were impatient: “Maybe God needs
our help to fulfill His plan.”
1) Abram thought it was Lot
2) Abram thought it was his servant’s child
3) Sarai suggested taking her servant
Ø If God promised it, let Him reveal the details in His
time.

23. 13. What does the name Hagar mean?
“Hagar” = “flight,” from hagar, to flee.
Arabic hajara, meaning “to flee”
Arabic: ‫ﺣ‬َ‫ﺞ‬ّ Ḥaǧǧ
“pilgrimage or flight”
622 Hijah – Muhammed flees
Mecca for Medina.
The beginning of the Muslim
calendar.

24. According to Ḥadīth, elements of the Hajj trace back to the
time of Abraham (Ibrahim), around 2000 BCE. Abraham’s
wife, Sarah, was unable to conceive, and upon her request,
Abraham had taken their female servant, Hagar, as a
partner. Hagar bore Abraham a son, Ishmael. It is believed
that Abraham was ordered by God to leave Hagar (Hājar)
and Ishmael (ʼIsmāʻīl) alone in the desert. Looking for
shelter, food and water, Hagar ran back and forth between
the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times with her son. In
desparation, she laid the baby on the sand and begged for
God’s assistance. The baby cried and hit the ground with
his heel (some versions of the story say that the angel
Gabriel (Jibral) scraped his foot or the tip of his wing
along the ground), and the Zamzam Well miraculously
sprang forth.
The Original ‫ﺣ‬َ‫ﺞ‬ّ Ḥaǧǧ

25. 14. Was Abram married to Hagar in the same
way that he was married to Sarai? Explain.
3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid,
the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram
to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in
the land of Canaan.
Sarai gives Hagar to Abram as an ishah. This may indicate
that Hagar has a higher status in the household than that of
a concubine (pilegesh). A higher status may have been
necessary for the child to have full rights as Abram’s heir.
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar,
D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ge 16:3). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

26. 4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And
when she saw that she had conceived, her
mistress became despised in her eyes.
15. How did Abram acquiesce to Sarai? Why
do you suspect he did this?
1. He had reservations, or doubts in the promise of God.
2. He listened to his wife’s ungodly advice.
3. He failed to test his wife’s advice against God’s Word.
4. He failed to pray for wisdom or guidance.

27. 16. How is Abram’s acquiescence to Sarai
similar to Adam’s to Eve?
4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived.
Abram & Sarai Adam & Eve
Sarai spoke to her husband,
Abram (16:2a)
Eve spoke to her husband,
Adam (3:2)
Abram listened to the voice
of his wife (16:2b)
Adam listened to the voice of
his wife (3:5, 17)
Sarai took Hagar to Abram
(16:3a)
Eve took the fruit to Adam
(3:6a)
Sarai gave Hagar to her
husband (16:3b)
Eve gave the fruit to her
husband (3:6b)

28. 17. How did strife come between Sarai and
Hagar?
4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And
when she saw that she had conceived, her
mistress became despised in her eyes.

29. (NKJV) 21 For three things the earth is perturbed.
Yes, for four it cannot bear up: 22 For a servant
when he reigns, a fool when he is filled with food,
23 a hateful woman when she is married, and a
maidservant who succeeds her mistress.
(Tanakh) 21 The earth shudders at three things, at
four which it cannot bear: 22 A slave who becomes
king; a scoundrel sated with food; 23 a loathsome
woman who gets married; a slave-girl who
supplants her mistress.

30. 18. What are 3 things you observe about
Sarai’s complaint?
5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon
you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when
she saw that she had conceived, I became despised
in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me.”
chamas
(Cf. Arabic word ḥamas)

31. 6 So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in
your hand; do to her as you please.” And when
Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her
presence.
19. How did Abram respond to Sarai’s
complaint?
Ø Abram should have been a reconciler
and laid down rules for Hagar. Sarai
was asking for intervention.
Ø Abram Retreated.
Ø His withdrawal made it worse.

32. 20. How did Sarai respond to Hagar?
6 So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in
your hand; do to her as you please.” And when
Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her
presence.
‫ע‬ָ‫נ‬ָ‫ה‬ (ʿā·nāh) = “afflict,” “mistreat,” “act
badly toward”

33. 21. Where did Hagar go? Why?
7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring
of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the
way to Shur.
Mediterranean
Sea

35. 22. What does “Shur” mean? What is its
significance?
7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring
of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the
way to Shur.
The name was probably given to it
from the wall (or shur) which the
Egyptians built to defend their
frontier on the north-east from the
desert tribes. This wall or line of
fortifications extended from
Pelusium to Heliopolis.
‫שׁ‬‫וּ‬‫ר‬ (šûr) = wall

36. 23. Who met Hagar while she was in the
wilderness?
7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring
of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the
way to Shur.
First mention of “the Angel of the Lord”
Theophany /
Christophany
Nicolas Colombel

37. 24. Where did the Angel of the Lord meet her?
7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a
spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring
on the way to Shur.
Ø “in the wilderness”
Ø “by a spring (fountain) of water”
Ø “on the way”

38. 25. What social injustices and applications can
you derive from Genesis 16:7-11?
7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of
water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to
Shur. 8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have
you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I
am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”
9 The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your
mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” 10 Then
the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will multiply your
descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be
counted for multitude.” 11 And the Angel of the LORD
said to her: “Behold, you are with child, And you shall
bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the
LORD has heard your affliction.

39. 25. What social injustices and applications can
you derive from Genesis 16:7-11?
“The text suggests that God takes up the cause of those
who are oppressed. In the midst of jealousy, cruelty,
irresponsibility, impatience, and abundant sinfulness
God’s grace stepped into the life of this despised slave
girl, and showed her his kindness. From that point on,
she would never forget what had happened to her. She
now knew that God was the One who had been caring
for her all along.”
Keith Krell, “Beware of Shortcuts” www.bible.org

40. 26. What comparisons can you make between
Genesis 16:7-14 and Exodus 2:15-22 and
John 4?
Hagar
Moses
Woman
of Sychar
fleeing
fleeing
rejected
water
water
water
Angel of the LORD
Priest of Midian
Jesus

41. 27. What questions did the Angel of the Lord
ask of Hagar?
8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have
you come from, and where are you going?” She
said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my
mistress Sarai.”

42. 28. What commands did the Angel of the Lord
give to Hagar? Why?
9 The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to
your mistress, and submit yourself under her
hand.”
Ø Return to Sarai, not Egypt.
Ø Humble yourself, Trust Me.

43. 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with
all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also
to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if
because of conscience toward God one endures
grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it
if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take
it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if
you take it patiently, this is commendable before
God.

44. 29. What promises did the Angel of the Lord
make to Hagar?
10 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will
multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that
they shall not be counted for multitude.”
Ø The contemporary Arab world has a combined
population of around 422 million inhabitants,
over half of whom are under 25 years of age
Ø Arab states currently consist of the 22 Arab
countries

46. 30. What did the Angel of the Lord tell Hagar
that she did not know about herself?
11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her: “Behold,
you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You
shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has
heard your affliction.

47. 31. How is the Announcements to Hagar and
Mary similar?
Ø Both announcements are given to the mother.
Ø Both women are greeted by an Angel.
Ø Both mother’s are told they will have a son.
Ø Both are given God’s favor.
Ø Both are given their son’s name.
Ø Both are informed of their son’s future achievements.
Ø Both women respond with thanks to God.
Keith Krell, “Beware of Shortcuts” www.bible.org

48. 32. What does “Ishmael” mean?
11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her: “Behold,
you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You
shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has
heard your affliction.
‫י‬ִ‫שׁ‬ְ‫מ‬ָ‫ע‬ֵ‫א‬‫ל‬ (yiš·mā·ʿēʾl)
‫ע‬ֳ‫נ‬ִ‫י‬ (ʿǒnî)
affliction, suffering,
persecution, harassment
= misery,
shamà “to hear” + “El” God”

49. 33. What description does the Angel of the
Lord give to Ishmael?
12 He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against
every man, and every man’s hand against him.
And he shall dwell in the presence of all his
brethren.”
)(pě·rě‫פּ‬ֶ‫ר‬ֶ‫א‬ = wild donkey, wild ass
or Asian onager
Note: “Paran” (pāʾrān),
the location of the tribes
of Ishmael later in history.

50. 12 He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against
every man, and every man’s hand against him.
And he shall dwell in the presence of all his
brethren.”
“He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be
against everyone” is an appositional sentence… which
suggests that the second clause (yāḏô ḇakkōl weyaḏ kōl
bô) is an explanation of the first (wehûʾ yihyeh
pereʾ ʾāḏām).”
F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers (Vol. 2, p. 136). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
33. What description does the Angel of the
Lord give to Ishmael?

51. 33. What description does the Angel of the
Lord give to Ishmael?
12 He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against
every man, and every man’s hand against him.
And he shall dwell in the presence of all his
brethren.”
‫פּ‬ָ‫נ‬ֶ‫ה‬ (pā·něh) “shall dwell” = before the face
“in the presence” suggests the idea of
pitching their tents; maintaining their
independence in spite of all attempts to
extirpate or subdue them.

52. 34. Do the descendants of Ishmael characterize
the promise given to Hagar regarding her
son?
“The figure of the ‫פּ‬ֶ‫ר‬ֶ‫א‬ , onager, in the desert, free,
wild-roving and untamable animal, poetically
described in Job 39:5–8, designates, in a striking
manner, the Bedouin Arabs with their unrestrained
love of freedom, as upon camel (Delûl) or horse, with
spear in hand, they ride over the desert, noisy, hardy,
frugal, delighting in the varied beauties of nature, and
despising life in towns and cities:”
Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., Lewis, T., & Gosman, A. (2008). A commentary on the
Holy Scriptures: Genesis (p. 417). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

53. 35. What did the angel of the Lord command
Hagar to do? Why?
9 The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to
your mistress, and submit yourself under her
hand.” 10 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I
will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so
that they shall not be counted for multitude.” 11
And the Angel of the LORD said to her: “Behold,
you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You
shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has
heard your affliction.

54. 36. How did Hagar respond to the Angel of the
Lord’s commands?
Ø Hagar returns to Sarai.
Ø She shared the words given to her with
Abram.
Ø Hagar and Ishmael will remain in Abram’s
house for 13 years.

55. 37. Did Hagar see the Lord?
13 Then she called the name of the LORD who
spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she
said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?”
Exodus 33:20 But He said, “You cannot see My
face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”
Suggested translations for verse 13:
(1) Hagar asked herself this question: “Have I really seen
God and am still alive?” She decided to call the Lord
who had spoken to her by the name “A God Who
Sees.”
(2) Hagar asked herself “God, have I really seen you and I
am still alive to tell it?” So she decided to call God
who had talked to her “You are God Who Sees Me.”

56. 38. What name did Hagar give the Lord?
13 Then she called the name of the LORD who
spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she
said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?”

57. 39. What was Hagar’s response to the angel’s
message?
13 Then she called the name of the LORD who
spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she
said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?”

58. 40. What was the name of the well and its
location where Hagar met the Angel of the
Lord?
14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi;
observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
Beer Lahai Roi today

59. 41. Who named Ishmael? Why?
15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named
his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.

60. 42. How old was Abram when he left the error
of Chaldea (Genesis 12:4), when he
fathered Ishmael (16:16), and when he
fathered Isaac (17:1)?
12:4 …And Abram was seventy-five years old
when he departed from Haran.
16:16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar
bore Ishmael to Abram.
17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the
LORD appeared to Abram…

61. 43. What do Hagar and Sarai symbolize in the
book of Galatians?

62. 44. What do Ishmael and Isaac symbolize in the
book of Galatians?
Flesh vs. Spirit
Ishmael – Isaac
son of a bondwoman vs. freewoman
Unbelief vs. Faith
Law vs. Grace
Galatians 4:22–23 For it is written that Abraham had
two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a
freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was
born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman
through promise,

63. If you’re a Sarai
God loves you – Wait on Him.
If you’re a Hagar
God hears your sorrow – Call out to Him.
If you’re an Abram
Be Patient – Wait for God’s guidance &
provision.

64. FURTHER RESEARCH
Proper Translation of Genesis 16:12
https://islamicarchives.wordpress.com/2017/05/08/pro
per-translation-of-genesis-1612/
Why Christians Convert to Islam (Abrahamic
Covenant)
http://www.why-christians-convert-to-
islam.com/nice201.htm
The Bible & the Quran on Abraham and His Sons
http://aboutislam.net/reading-islam/understanding-
islam/the-bible-and-the-quran-on-abraham-and-his-
sons/

65. 941-729-6600
941-981-5387
http://faithbiblechurchefc.com
http://TRUTHtransforms.com
sanctitas@aol.com