Genesis 16:1
1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Do you think Hagar was a gift to Sarai from the Pharoah?
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Genesis 16:2
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.
Does it sound like there was much thought concerning this?
Did they take this matter to the Lord?
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Genesis 16:3
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.
How do you think Sarai is feeling about doing this?
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Genesis 16:4
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.
If God kept Sarai from conceiving, why didn't He keep Hagar from conceiving also?
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Genesis 16:5
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.
What does Sarai think she did wrong?
Why does she say, "the LORD judge between me and thee"? What is to be judged?
What might cause Hagar to despise Sarai?
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Genesis 16:6
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.
If Sarai gave Hagar to Abram to be his wife, why does Abram say, "thy maid"?
What do you think Sarai did that was dealing hardly with Hagar?
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Genesis 16:7
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.
What does it mean that "the angel of the LORD found her"? Was she lost?
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Genesis 16:8
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.
The angel asks two questions. Why does Hagar only answer one?
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Genesis 16:9
9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
Do you think the angel is giving her an answer to the second question because she didn't have one?
If Hagar did have an answer, do you think the angel would have told her to return to Sarai?
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Genesis 16:10
10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
Did Hagars descendants ever become their own nation?
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Genesis 16:11
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.
Why do you think these three verses all start with "And the angel of the LORD said unto her"?
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Genesis 16:12
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.
Would you call this a prophetic statement?
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Genesis 16:13
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?
Do we ever give God a name? Do you think it is good to give God a name?
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Genesis 16:14
14 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
Does the location of the well seem important when the word "behold" is used?
What importance might it be?
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Genesis 16:15
15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
Do you think Hagar became submisive to Sarai?
Do you think she despised her anymore?
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Genesis 16:16
16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
How many is fourscore in todays English?
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