Lesson 40

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Bible Study 1 - Genesis 16

 

Series # 4:         FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FAITH

Lesson 40:        Genesis 16.1-16  THE DEPTHS TO WHICH GOD'S OWN PEOPLE CAN SINK


Genesis 16:1-16 (KJV) 1 “Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.  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.  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. 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.  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.  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. 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.  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.  9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. 10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.  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.  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.  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?  14 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.  16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.”

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

It is amazing the depths to which God's Own people can sink. Here is Abram, a man who is following God by faith. He has believed God enough to leave his homeland and his family behind. He has trusted God through battles and trials that would have made many men turn around in defeat and return home. Yet, for all his faith and his good deeds, Abram is still a human. He is still made of sinful flesh and there is still within him a pull towards the world and all its allurements.

 

We all know what this passage is about. Sarai and Abram try to help God give them a son by having Abram take Sarai's maidservant Hagar as his wife. Of course, this was never God's will for their lives, but, as with us, this did not stop them from rushing headlong into it anyway. Their decision brought with it far reaching consequences for them and for our world today.

 

INTERPRETATION:

 

THE REASONS FOR THE TROUBLE

1-4 a  1 “Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.  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.  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. 4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived:

While all the reasons behind this fiasco are far too many to mention, there are three reasons that warrant mentioning in this study.

 

THE ACCEPTANCE THEY WERE DESIRING

 

In that society, it was considered a disgrace for a couple to be childless. In our day, many couples choose that lifestyle for themselves and that is okay. Others have that choice forced on them by physical reasons. In Abram's day, regardless of the reasons behind it, if a couple had no children, they were mocked, looked down on and largely were not accepted in society.

 

This was a society that also thought nothing of multiple marriages. If a man like Abram were to take Hagar as a concubine, or secondary wife, no one around them would think a thing of it. If that concubine were to bear a child, it would be considered to be the child of the first, or primary, wife. In this way, Sarai could get the child she desired and be accepted in the community.  God's children are often guilty of lowering their standards to those of the community around them in order to fit in better. It is better to please God and be rejected by men that it is to please men and be rejected by God! There MUST be a clear line of differentiation between the people of the Lord and the world around them.  Many churches today are falling into that trap! While we are to be in the world we are not to be of the world but in many cases and in many churches today it is difficult to distinguish the difference between the two when they both are definitely there.  In many churches the world is welcomed to lead in the worship services and even praised for their wonderful performances when none of it has anything to do with bringing Glory to God at all. It only brings attention and adoration to men in an attempt to draw a crowd or a large audience in the name of religion and there is no clear line of differentiation between the people of the Lord and the world around them.

 The Bible says in 2nd Corinthians 6:11-17, “11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompense in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Let me share with you a rendering of a translation that which is about the easiest to understand that I have ever seen.

2nd Corinthians 6:11-17 in (TMSG)-THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION–(THE BIBLE IN CONTEMPORARY LANGUAGE) “11 Dear, dear Corinthians, I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life.  12 We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way.  13 I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!  14 Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark?  15 Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands?  16 Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: “I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people. 17 So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself.”

 

THE BAGGAGE THEY WERE DRAGGING

 

The Bible tells us that Hagar was an Egyptian. She is part of the possessions that Abram brought back with him from his sinful journey into Egypt.

The Bible says in Genesis 12:10-20, “And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. 14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. 17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.”

Had he never journeyed to that country, there would have been no Hagar to marry! He is still reaping the harvest he sowed in Egypt! You never go into sin and come out clean! There is always some reminder, some evidence that you were there! That is the Law of Sowing and Reaping.

The Bible says in Galatians 6:7-8, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

 

THE PROMISES THEY WERE DOUBTING

Genesis 15:1-6 tells the story of God's great promise to Abram. “1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

 

When the promise was given, Abram reacted in faith, but as time has gone by, Abram has begun to doubt. He, along with Sarai, decides that God needs help in fulfilling His promise. After all, God only said that Abram would father a son; He didn't say by whom he would father that son!

 

It is my conviction that doubt towards the Word and promises of the Lord accounts for more of our troubles than any single thing else.

When will we ever learn that: GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS WORD?

  1. We can read what He has promised us, but when the promise isn't fulfilled immediately, we begin to doubt and try to find way to make it happen ourselves. 

  2. The Bible says in Hebrews 6:18, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” 

  3. The Bible says in Romans 4:21, “And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” 

  4. The Bible says in  Psalm 119:89, “Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

 

When will we ever learn that: GOD IS A GOD OF ORDER AND THAT HE DOESN'T RUN ON OUR SCHEDULE?

  1. Men needed a Savior for 4,000 years before He came, but God sent Him "in the fullness of time." 

  2. The Bible says in Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

 

When will we ever learn that: GOD DOESN'T NEED OUR HELP TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL? 

  1. The Bible says in Psalm 50:12, “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.”

 

EXPLANATION:

 

THE REACTIONS TO THE TROUBLE

Genesis 16:4b-9(KJV) “ 4…and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.  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.  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. 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.  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.  9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.”

 

All three of the participants in this fiasco reacted differently to the situation. All three reacted differently, but it is worthy to note that all three reacted badly. By the way, when sin and its problems, or any problem from any source, for that matter, arrives in our lives, it seems most of the people in this room will react to it in one of the three manners.

 

ABRAM REACTED BY BEING UNACCOUNTABLE

“ 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.”

 

He tried to pretend that there was no problem and that if there was a problem, it was Sarai's to deal with. He totally ignored his responsibility in the whole situation. Many people try to deal with their problems by simply ignoring them. This will never work! Left to us settled, small problems grow into bigger ones in a short time. The Bible says in 2nd Samuel 13:1-39  that David ignored the problem of Amnon and Tamar and the problem grew until Absalom took matters into his own hands and killed his brother! Therefore, whether it be a problem in the home, on the job, in the community, at school or in the church, it must be confronted and dealt with or it will get out of hand. Just ask Abram!

 

SARAI REACTED BY BEING UNREASONABLE

“ 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.”

 

Sarai was miserable because of the pride and haughtiness of Hagar, so she tried to make everyone else around her miserable too. She tried to blame Abram for the problem. She tried to blame Hagar for the problem. She even dragged God into the problem. She fleshed out the man made proverb: "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" There are many who approach the problems of life with a similar attitude. If they are unhappy, they want everyone else around them to be unhappy as well. So, they get grouchy, mean-spirited, short-tempered and become hard to get along with. Lest we forget, this is not a Christ like response to trouble and problems.

  1. The Bible says in Gelatins 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

  2. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.”

He would have us learn to handle the problems of life without attaching others or attempting to make them as miserable as we are!

 

HAGAR REACTED BY BEING UNAVAILABLE

Genesis 16:6b-9 (KJV)” 6…And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. 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.  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.  9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.”

 

Hagar decided that the answer to her problems was flight. She just packed up and left to get away from the problem.  This is the most common response of all! When problems arise at church, don't seek a solution, seek a new church. When problems arise on the job, don't fix it, find a new job. When problems crop up in the marriage, don't work it out, just find yourself a new mate.  The giants of Canaan and the children of Israel. They ran from the them the first time. The Bible says in Numbers 13-14, but before their descendants could claim the land, they had to be faced and defeated.

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 9:1-2, “1 Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,  2 A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!” 

I want to call your attention to the fact that God sent Hagar back to the family, 16:9, “And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.” He did this for several reasons, but among them is the fact that God intended to use this situation to help each of these three people to learn to face their problems His way. Abram had to face it. Sarai had to deal with it. Hagar had to live in it. God's business isn't to make you happy. He wants to make you holy! Forcing you to face your problems is one way of accomplishing that end!

 

APPLICATION:

 

THE RESULTS OF THE TROUBLE

Genesis 16:10-16 (KJV) “10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.  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.  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.  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?  14 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.  16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.”

 

  1. The Bible says in Proverbs 13:15, “Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard.”

  2. The Bible says in Numbers 32:23, “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” 

These and other verses remind us of the sad truth that sin brings with it troubles and trials. The situation before us today is no different!

 

A DIFFICULT SON WAS BORN

Genesis 16:11-12(KJV) “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.  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.” 

 

Ishmael is called a wild man.  Many parents seem determined to raise their own "wild men" through lack of standards and discipline in the home! He would be difficult to handle and would be aggressive towards others. Ishmael represents the difficulties that arise when sin is allowed to divert us from God's path for our lives. Remember, sin brings its own club. Ishmael is a picture of that truth. What might your sin give birth to in your life? Remember, the Bible says in Galatians 6:7-8, “6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

 

A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY WAS BURDENED


Genesis 21:9-11(KJV) “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.  10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.  11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son”

 

As Ishmael grew, the tensions surrounding him grew as well. In other words, the sin of Abram and Sarai, even after many years, still brought heartache and trouble into the home!  I would just remind you that your sins, no matter how small and insignificant you may think them to be, always affect you and those around you! They poison your spirit, they sabotage your family and they hinder your walk with God. Many families are burdened today by the so-called hidden sins of those in that family! The answer to sin is to drag it into the light.

  1. The Bible says in Proverbs 28:13, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Sin cannot live when it is brought out of the darkness into the marvelous light of the glory of God.

2.   The Bible says in John 3:19-21, “19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved   darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

 

A DIVINE PLAN WAS BOLSTERED

Genesis 16:10-12(KJV) “10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.  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.  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.” 

 

Even though this sin was accomplished by the will of men, it was going to be used for the glory of God. Those involved could not see how things would play out in our day. Yet, much of the trouble the world is dealing with today, especially in the Arab world, is a direct result of Abram's sin with Hagar. The Arabs are going to figure heavily in God's plan for the end time events. You see, nothing, even our sins, catches God by surprise. He can take the worst of our failures and use them for His glory. That is not an excuse for evil, but a reason to get up and go on after we fall. Therefore, when sin is committed in your life, do not run from it. Rather, run to the Lord and fine the cleansing and forgiveness He offers thought grace.

The Bible says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

CONCLUSION:

 

So many areas of our lives have been addressed in this message that I would be surprised if there was a single person in this study who has not been spoken to directly. While we live in this world, there will be sins and there will be times when we react badly to the trials and problems of life. But, my friends, those sins and those bad reactions do not have to mark our lives! There is a place, called the altar, where we can go to find the help, forgiveness and restoration we so desperately need. The alter can be right where you and God meet together, no matter where it is. If this text has spoken to your life today, please take it to the Lord and let Him have His way in your life!

 

DO YOU NEED SOME HELP?

To find more help in receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior please go to the Bible Study Title Page “ETERNAL LIFE.” Please send me an email and let me know about any decision for Christ you make so that I may pray for you. Feel free to send me any questions, comments, or responses you may have as well. For those who are already Christians I invite you to also please let me know of any decisions you make in your Christian life for Jesus. Please send me your questions, comments, or responses and let me know if the Bible Studies are helping you.

rfdenning1951@gmail.com

 

ALWAYS REMEMBER!

The support of your local Church ministry and the ministry of your Pastor should be the first priority of your Christian life and your service to the Lord. Be faithful to prayerfully prepare and attend Sunday School and Worship Service this Sunday and participate in worship as your Pastor preaches the Word. Do not forget to give the Lord at least your TITHE through your local church from your gross income – that is your first fruits. Any other giving is an offering to a ministry unto the Lord. Honor the Lord in all you do and with all that you have. Always remember that everything you have and all you are belongs to the Lord. It is on loan to you – so manage it well! There will be an audit one day! Make sure the Books Balance!

 

All Bible Studies Are Prepared by Pastor Frank Denning And May Be Be Used By Permission.