The maid, the mistress, and the master. I. HAGAR 'S SINS . 1. Pride. 2. Contempt. 3. Insubordination. 4. Flight. II. SARAI 'S FAULTS . 1. Tempting her husband. 2. Excusing herself. 3. Appealing to God. 4. Afflicting her servant. III. ABRAM 'S INFIRMITY . 1. Yielding to temptation. 2. Perpetrating injustice. 3. Acquiescing in oppression.— W . read more
Hagar. The history of Hagar has its two sides—that which is turned towards God and illustrates Divine grace, that which is turned towards man and illustrates human infirmity and sinfulness. Jehovah brought forth compassionate bestowments of revelation and promise out of his people's errors. Abram and Sarah both sinned. Hagar sinned. The angel of the Lord, representative of the continuous gracious revelation of Jehovah as a covenant God, appeared in the cloud of family sorrow, drawing once... read more
And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee. Ἀδικοῦμαι ἐκ σοῦ ( LXX . ); indue agis contra me (Vulgate); My injury is upon thee, i.e. thou art the cause of it (Jonathan, Rosenmüller, Ainsworth, Clarke, 'Speaker's Commentary'); or, it belongs to thee as well as to me (Clericus, Bush, Alford); or, perhaps better, May the injury done to me return upon thee! cf. Genesis 27:13 (Keil, Kalisch, Lange, Wordsworth)—the language of passionate irritation, indicating repentance of... read more
But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand (regarding her still as one of Sarai's servants, though elevated to the rank of secondary wife to himself); do to her as it pleaseth thee. Literally, the good in thine eyes; in which conduct of the patriarch may be seen perhaps HOMILETICS read more
And the angel of the Lord . Maleach Jehovah , elsewhere styled Maleach Elohim ( Genesis 21:17 ; Genesis 31:11 ); supposed but wrongly to be a creature angel, for the reasons chiefly 1. The Maleach Jehovah explicitly identifies himself with Jehovah ( Genesis 16:10 ) and Elohim ( Genesis 22:12 ). 2. Those to whom he makes his presence known recognize him as Divine ( Genesis 16:13 ; Genesis 18:23-33 ; Genesis 28:16-22 ; Exodus 3:6 ; 6:15 , 6:20-23 ; 13:22 ... read more
The capture of the runaway, or Hagar and the angel of the Lord. I. THE FUGITIVE ARRESTED . 1. The agent of her capture . The angel of Jehovah ( vide Exposition), whose appearance to Hagar at this particular juncture was doubtless— 2. The place of her capture . II. THE FOUNDLING INTERROGATED . 1. The question of the angel . 2. The answer of Hagar . III. THE WANDERER DIRECTED . 1. To return to Abram ' s house . The tent of Sarai,... read more
Wells in the wilderness. 1. God provides them for the rest and refreshment of pilgrims. 2. God visits them to meet with wear), and afflicted pilgrims. 3. God dispenses from them life and hope to all repenting and believing pilgrims. Compare with the angel of Jehovah and Hagar at the fountain of Shur, Christ and the woman of Samaria at Jacob's well ( John 4:6 ).— W . read more
Glimpses of the Godhead. 1. Divine condescension. God visits men as the angel visited Hagar. 2. Divine omniscience. God knows men as the angel knew Hagar. 3. Divine compassion. God pities and comforts men as the angel did Hagar. 4. Divine wisdom. God instructs men as the angel directed Hagar. 5. Divine grace. God pardons and accepts men as the angel did Hagar.— W . read more
- The Birth of Ishmael1. הנר hāgār, Hagar, “flight.” Hejrah, the flight of Muhammed.7. מלאך mal'ak “messenger, angel.” A deputy commissioned to discharge a certain duty for the principal whom he represents. As the most usual task is that of bearing messages, commands, or tidings, he is commonly called a “messenger” ἄγγελος angelos). The word is therefore a term of office, and does not further distinguish the office-bearer than as an intelligent being. Hence, a מלאך mal'ak may be a man... read more
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John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:7
Verse 7 7.And the angel of the Lord found her. We are here taught with what clemency the Lord acts towards his own people, although they have deserved severe punishment. As he had previously mitigated the punishment of Abram and Sarai, so now he casts a paternal look upon Hagar, so that his favor is extended to the whole family. He does not indeed altogether spare them, lest he should cherish their vices; but he corrects them with gentle remedies. It is indeed probable, that Hagar, in going to... read more