Old Testament - Genesis 16:1-16 - (Arab Israeli Conflict)

Genesis 16:1-6 Arab Israeli Conflict - Calvary Chapel Windward - OAHU, HAWAII - Pastor Tim Newman - From Local Olelo / Oceanic / Time Warner Cable show "A View from Calvary" - Episode #301 - Original Air Date: 01/15/2012 A.D.

PASTOR TIM'S NOTES:

Gen 16:1-16
“The Arab-Israeli Conflict”
1. There is a DECISION to have a child by another wife.
Vs. 1-6
1a. The DECISION was Sarai’s idea.
Sarai had not been able to conceive a child.
1b. The DECISION is accepted by Abram
Why did God wait so long?
2 reasons
1) He wanted Abraham and Sarah to be physically “as good as dead” (Heb. 11:12)
so that God alone would get the glory.
2) While Abraham and Sarah were WAITING God was WORKING
He was increasing their faith and patience and building character (James 1:1–4).

1c. The DECISION is based on a failure of faith.
Sarai decides to give her maidservant to Abram as a second wife for the purposes of
having a child. Sarah was “second-guessing” God
Sarah was not concerned about the glory of God; her only goal was “go in to my
maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her."” (16:2).
God never accepted Hagar as Abraham’s wife; the Angel of the Lord called her
“Sarah’s maid” (16:8).
1d. The DECISION is later regretted.
Sarai regrets the decision after the child has been born.
Vs. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong be upon you!

Prov 30:21-23
Hagar became proudly pregnant.
Sarai says, “I became despised in her eyes”
This same word means to curse.
Abram was truly responsible for the “wrong” (Hebrew, “violence”) she was
suffering. The problem was not listening to his wife. The problem was that he did
not go to the Lord and seek His council. Gen 21:12-13
2. There is a DIVINE intervention by the angel of God.
Vs. 7-14
2a. The DIVINE intervention saves the life of Hagar and the child.
The angel finds Hagar by a spring of water.
The location of “Shur” (v. 7), according to Genesis 25:18 and 1 Samuel 15:7, was
near the border of Egypt.
This is the first appearance in Scripture of the Angel of the Lord, who is
generally identified as our Lord Jesus Christ.
The fact that the Son of God took on a temporary body, left heaven, and came
down to help a rejected servant-girl surely reveals His grace and love.
2b. The DIVINE intervention included predictions.
There would be two blessings for her son.
1) God then told her that she was pregnant with a son whom she should name
Ishmael (“God hears”).
2) While he would not be Abraham’s heir in the blessings of the covenant, Ishmael
would still enjoy blessings from God since he was Abraham’s son.
There would be two concerns for her son.
1) Ishmael would be a “wild donkey of a man” (16:12, NIV),
2) He would be a hated man, living “in hostility toward all his brothers”
He would live in perpetual conflict with those around him.
2c. The DIVINE intervention came as a result of Hagar’s affliction.
V.11 Because the LORD has heard your affliction.
She sees that God is a personal God, concerned about abused people and unborn
babies. At this point Hagar does not focus or comment on the child but rather on
God himself.
Vs.13 Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-GodWho-Sees;
3. The child is DELIVERED and given the name Ishmael.
Vs. 15-16
3a. Hagar DELIVERS a son and he is named Ishmael.
In this entire episode, Abraham played a rather passive role.
But when his son was born, Abraham acknowledged him and obediently gave him
the name that God had appointed.
3b. Abram is 86 years old at the time of DELIVERY of the Ishmael.
Abraham’s body is not yet as good as dead. So God must wait.
“When He cannot rule, He overrules;
and He always accomplishes His purposes.”
Like Abraham and Sarah, we can confess our sins, accept God’s
cleansing (1 John 1:9), and then learn to live with our mistakes.

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