“so, she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress,” Genesis 16:2-4, NIV.
I understand how difficult it is to wait. Stop lights can cause me to drum my fingers on the steering wheel when I’m in a hurry. I can’t even imagine what Sarai went through when she had to wait for years to conceive a child. Especially since this child came with a promise—the very promise of God—
“Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness,” Genesis 15:4-6, NIV.
“As many as the stars…,” so, should this nation start sooner than later? Abram and Sarai were both old and getting older day by day.
I believe 10 years had passed since that star promise of heirs had been made, but still no offspring of her own. So, Sarai did what she thought was the right thing to do and gave Abram a second wife. She took her servant, an Egyptian slave, and Hagar became not only Abram’s second wife, but mother of his first child.
Apparently, this wasn’t a good idea. Hagar’s status was raised and so was her attitude towards Sarai. Hagar began to look down on Sarai—to the point of looking at Sarai with contempt and her actions followed.
The Bible doesn’t tell us the conversations or looks the women exchanged, but I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant. It seemingly got so bad that Sarai blamed Abram for Hagar’s attitude! Can you imagine Abram’s joy, who had been waiting years to have a baby, and finally had one? Can you see him looking fondly at Hagar who is carrying his son? Can you feel the tension between the two women?
Abram then, after being told off by the first wife, says fine—do to her what you may. Typically, bad advice, especially when the advice is given to a hurt and jealous woman. Yet, he gives it, and Sarai acts. This might be where the producers got the idea for any of those “Housewives” reality shows. The scene lends itself to good drama. Not right drama, but conflict and fighting are typical of many reality tv shows, which means good ratings.
But alas Hagar leaves pregnant and crying, and it takes an Angel of the LORD to comfort her, Genesis 16:7-13.
You will have a son of conflict (not great news, but in those days a son was a blessing). He, too, will be a father of many nations. So far, not all bad—yet the Angel had said to go back and serve Sarai.
I stopped there and thought, "Wow that's a tough ask." How difficult would that have been!? To swallow all of one’s pride and return as a servant! To know the first born will serve the second born! Yet, she does.
Well done, Hagar, for listening and following what God has asked you to do.
I was really convicted by Hagar’s humility. To return to a place of turmoil because God has asked you to do just that. Wow.
What are the things God is asking you to do? Forgive a wrong? Confess a wrong? Love a seemingly “wrong” person—one whom you don’t want to admit that they are in the right, and you are actually at fault? Are we willing to surrender our pride for God? Give up what we are insisting on to obey the one we call “King?”
Father,
There’s a lump in my throat when I think of having to humble myself like Hagar did. But she obeyed. Help me to have that kind of humility before You, King Jesus.
You humbled Yourself even more deeply than Hagar, for You denied Your deity, and became mankind like us. That was a step down.
Help me to love You more than I love myself, today and all my tomorrows.
Help me praise You because You are worthy. I know You have given me a choice, but there are days when it’s difficult to let go of “me.” Those are the days I need help.
Today I surrender all. Not my will, but Yours be done.
Amen.
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