Sermon Genesis Chapter 16

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[2] The title of the sermon today is “GENESIS CHAPTER 16.”

In The Last Chapter, The Word Of The Lord Came To Abram In A Vision

• Before we begin Genesis Chapter 16, let’s recap the last chapter.
• In Genesis Chapter 15, we saw the word of the Lord come to Abram in a vision.
• God commands Abram to fear not for God is his exceeding great reward.
• The entire Bible commands us to fear nothing but God. This isn’t just lip service.
• This is a command. FEAR NOTHING but God. And that’s it. We then see God make a promise to Abram.

[3] Genesis 15:5 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.

• We learned that the heir of Abram’s house will come from his own bowels.
• Abram is old now and he still doesn’t have any children of his own.
• But God makes Abram this promise. There’s a lot of stars in the sky.
• “So shall they seed be,” says God. “Take a look, Abram. You’ll have that many children.”

[4] Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

• Abram, even though he didn’t have a clue how God would make this happen, BELIEVED IN THE LORD.
• Abram knew that God would make it happen and is good to His words and promises.
• Even when things seem impossible, God can and will make things happen according to His words.
• Who is Abram’s seed? That verse gives you the answer.
• Abram’s seed are all those who believe in the Lord. Once you believe “IN” the Lord, you are saved.
• Abram was saved at that point. Abram received righteousness from God that wasn’t his own.

We see God promise Abram the land in Canaan. We see Abram ask God how he will know he will inherit the land.

• We see God instruct Abram to sacrifice a heifer, she goat, ram, turtledove, and a young pigeon.
• God’s going to make a covenant with Abram and give him more information.

[5] Genesis 15:12-14 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

• God shows Abram that his seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs.
• As saved people, we are strangers in this world. The world thinks we’re strange. We don’t belong here.
• But the physical children of Abraham will be afflicted in Egypt for 400 years.
• After that, the physical children of Abraham will come forth with great substance.
• We see that happen during the Exodus from Egypt.
• After the Passover, the Egyptians want the Israelites out.

Abram then learns that he’ll die in a good old age and in peace.

• We see a smoking furnace and a burning lamp pass between the sacrifice Abram offered to God.
• God makes the covenant with Abram and says: “Unto thy seed have I given this land.” What land?
• God says, “This land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.”
• We know that this promise from God will be fulfilled.
• The land from the Nile to the Euphrates river will be given to the seed of Abram.
• With that quick summary of Genesis Chapter 15, let’s start in Genesis Chapter 16.

[6] Genesis 16:1-2 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.

• Sarai was barren at this time and couldn’t have children. Abram was about 85 years old at this time.
• This means Sarai was about 75 years old right here, at this time, in this chapter.
• Sarai, obviously, is tired of waiting on the Lord and decides she’ll do this her own way.
• She had an handmaid whose name was Hagar. And Hagar was an Egyptian.
• Remember, Abram and Sarai went down into Egypt during the famine and came out with Hagar.
• Sarai tells Abram that the Lord hath restrained her from bearing children. Was she correct?
• Yes she was. Sarai wants Abram to go into her handmaid Hagar and have children through Hagar.
• We see that Abram listens to the voice of Sarai and HEARKENS unto HER VOICE.

Now, was the right thing for Abram to do? Should he have hearkened unto the voice of his wife?

• If your wife is helping you to follow God and His commandments, then yes, you should hearken unto her.
• But, was Sarai leading Abram in the right direction or wrong direction?
• God clearly commands us in the Bible that marriage is between ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN.

[7] Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

• Sarai was Abram’s wife. Abram was Sarai’s husband. Sarai is Abram’s possession.
• And Abram is Sarai’s possession. If your wife tries to give you to another woman, what should you say?
• NO WAY. You are my wife, and I am with you no matter what. I WILL NOT GO TO HAGAR.
• This is what Abram should have said. And Sarai shouldn’t have asked him to do this in the first place.

This wasn’t going to work out well, and it didn’t work out well for any of them.

• Abram ends up kicking Hagar and Ishmael out of the house. He didn’t want to, but he had to.
• When you sin, the sin will come back to you. You will feel the consequences of sin.
• And your sin will trickle over to other people who didn’t commit the sin. Ishmael didn’t commit that sin.
• But he paid for the sin of Abram and Sarai, as an example. Hagar paid for the sin of Abram and Sarai too.
• Jesus confirms for us in the New Testament that this commandment is still valid.
• MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN. You are to be one flesh.

[8] Matthew 19:3-4 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

[9] Matthew 19:5-6 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

• Let me say this again: “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
• If you’re married and you’ve consummated that marriage, you are one flesh with your husband or wife.
• Male plus female. This is what goes together and makes you one flesh with each other.
• You are not your own anymore. Your body is your husband’s or your wife’s. And no one can change that.
• Let no man or woman divide you. UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT NOW.

[10] Matthew 19:7-9 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

• The only valid cause of divorce, according to Jesus Christ, is fornication.
• Please understand the definition of fornication today.
• Notice that God knows there’s a difference in fornication and adultery.
• Jesus uses two different words in these Scriptures. Adultery is not fornication.
• Fornication is a sexual relationship before marriage. After marriage is when adultery happens.

Fornication (Sexual Relationship BEFORE Marriage) Is The Only Valid Reason For Divorce

Think of the story of Joseph and Mary. They had not yet consummated their marriage when Mary was pregnant.

• Joseph and Mary had not yet been together sexually when Mary was found to be pregnant.
• So, what is Joseph thinking? Joseph is thinking that Mary committed fornication.
• And since that would have been fornication, Joseph could have divorced her due to fornication.
• For example, if a woman leads you to believe that she is a virgin and hasn’t been with a man before marriage and the man finds that out to be a lie, the man can lawfully (according to Jesus) divorce the woman.

And notice, there is no other valid reason for divorce. NOT ONE. Nothing else. Adultery is not a valid reason.

• There are no: “Well, what about this? Well, what about that?” NO is the answer to all of them.
• You can think of anything you want, and if it’s not fornication, the answer is NO.
• Now, Jesus also doesn’t say the man MUST divorce the woman over fornication either.
• The man can choose to stick with his wife just as God designed.
• So, what did Sarai talk her husband into doing? She talked Abram into sinning.
• What sin did Abram commit? ADULTERY. He was a married man.
• Abram hearkened unto the voice of his wife. Is that what we should be doing?
• Does this remind you of anyone? Who else hearkened to the voice of his wife and sinned?

[11] Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

• I want to get this straight with you right now. We should NEVER go against God and His words.
• We should never sin because we think it’s going to be the right thing to do. Sin is never the right thing.
• God does not answer your prayers through sin. NEVER WILL THAT HAPPEN.
• Abram and Sarai thought God would answer their prayers for a child through sin.
• That’s a HUGE MISTAKE to believe God would answer prayers through an act of sin. Won’t happen.
• Keep that in mind for your life. Don’t sin and believe it will be an answer to your prayers.
• Don’t steal and believe that God is answering your prayers. Abram’s sin didn’t end up well.

[12] 1 Samuel 15:23-24 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

• Do not fear anyone else but God and do not hearken unto their voice.
• “But my manager told me I had to do it.” No, don’t sin against God no matter who commands you.
• So, what should Abram and Sarai have done? They should have continued praying to the Lord for a child.
• They should have waited upon the Lord even in their old age.
• Throughout the Bible, you will see that God opens and closes the womb of women.
• God allows women to have children and God takes that ability away from women.

Isaac and Rebekah did things the right way. Follow their example if you can’t have children.

• They prayed for 20 years and God finally gave them Jacob and Esau.
• Jacob and Rachel had trouble having children. God had closed the womb of Rachel.
• But eventually she has Joseph and Benjamin. Elkanah and Hannah couldn’t have children.
• What did Hannah do? She went to the Lord. She goes to Eli and prays.

[13] 1 Samuel 1:17-18 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. 18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

[14] 1 Samuel 1:19-20 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. 20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

• Hannah has Samuel who becomes a great man of God who loves the Lord. He wasn’t perfect, though.
• The greatest of all men besides Jesus Christ had a mother whose womb was closed.
• Zacharias and Elizabeth has trouble, but Elizabeth ends up pregnant with John the Baptist.
• Manoah and his wife had trouble. They have Samson.
• Go to God in prayer and wait upon the Lord.

[15] Genesis 29:31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

[16] Genesis 30:22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

[17] 1 Samuel 1:5-6 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. 6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

[18] Genesis 20:18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.

[19] Judges 13:2-3 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. 3 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

• With those Scriptures, who opens and closes the womb? GOD DOES. It’s very obvious and clear.
• Did God shut up their wombs because they were wicked people? NO WAY. God has a plan for you.
• Elizabeth has the forerunner to Jesus Christ. She has the greatest man to ever live besides Jesus Christ.
• She waited on the Lord. Understand that. Don’t take matters into your own hands. Wait on God.

Every Godly Woman Who Was Barren Ended Up Having Children

Every Godly woman who was barren in the Bible ended up having children. EVERY ONE OF THEM.

• And remember, God doesn’t answer prayer through sin.
• So don’t take things into your own hands through something like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) which kills life.
• Never turn to anything with roots in wickedness. For example, birth control isn’t in the Bible.
• Many women take birth control for years and then attempt to have a child and can’t.
• Guess what God doesn’t approve of at any point in the Bible? Birth control.
• He even killed one man for using his form of birth control.

[20] Genesis 38:8-10 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. 9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

• Some people would say, “Oh my. Did he really just use that Scripture in church?”
• Hey, listen up, if you don’t like God’s Scriptures, you’re in trouble. I’m not. I love His Scriptures.
• I am not ashamed of any of God’s words. God puts these things in the Bible for us to learn.
• And yes, children need to know how all of these things work. If God put it there, it’s good.
• Babies are only made between a man and a woman. The man has the seed for a baby.

The man places the seed within the woman who has the egg. Once the sperm fertilizes the egg, there’s life.

• Onan didn’t want to have a child so he spilled the seed on the ground. That’s a form of birth control.
• And you can see how God didn’t like that at all. This displeased the Lord.
• As a married man and woman, God wants to bless you GREATLY with children. They are amazing.
• God doesn’t approve of birth control. Some forms of birth control are even more evil than what Onan did.
• Some forms of birth control will kill the life of a baby. And some women do this constantly.
• Did you know that the INSTANT the sperm reaches the egg, there’s life?
• The genes of the baby and the sex of the baby is known right there at that point. The baby is alive.

For example, if that baby at the moment of conception was found in that exact form on Mars, all of the scientists would say: “WE FOUND LIFE ON MARS.”

• They would. But many of those same so-called scientists approve of abortion.
• Many people will say: “That’s not a baby. It’s not alive at that point.”
• But if they found a living cell on Mars they would call it life.
• The Bible teaches us that life begins at conception. And the Bible is truth.
• So be careful with IVF, birth control, anything else that’s similar.
• We should instead be fruitful and multiply. And wait on the Lord if you’re having trouble.

[21] Genesis 16:3 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.

• So, Saria takes Hagar the Egyptian and gives her to Abram to be his wife.
• According to God’s law, Abram can’t have a second wife. That’s not a legitimate wife in God’s eyes.
• You get one wife. Fornication or death is the only valid way you can have a second wife.
• After 10 years of living in Canaan, this happens. This is how we know Abram is about 85 now.
• Abram was 75 when he left Haran to go to Canaan.
• Sarai is going to soon regret giving her husband another woman.
• Do you remember who was the first in the Bible to have 2 wives?

[22] Genesis 4:16-17 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

[23] Genesis 4:18-19 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. 19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

• A descendant of the evil and wicked Cain, Lamech, has 2 wives. All the way back to Genesis Chapter 4.
• If you pay close attention in the Bible, you’ll see that multiple wives never works out well.
• The multiple women will hate each other and fight with each other. NOT A GOOD THING.
• And it won’t work out good here in Genesis Chapter 16 with Sarai and Hagar.

[24] Genesis 16:4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

• As soon as Hagar sees that she has conceived a child with Abram, Hagar despises Sarai.
• This isn’t Sarai despising Hagar but Hagar despising Sarai at this point. The next verse proves this.

[25] Genesis 16:5 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 could have went directly to Hagar with this issue, but she doesn’t. She goes to Abram.
• Abram is the head of the household. Sarai says, “My wrong be upon thee.”
• In other words, Sarai is saying that she did wrong by giving Hagar to Abram.
• And now it’s Abram’s job to fix this. Sarai was a good wife but she made a mistake.
• 1 Peter Chapter 3 tells us that Sara obeyed Abraham calling him lord. She submitted to Abraham.
• So she takes her mistake to Abram so he can fix this. That’s his job.

Sarai Asks Abram To Judge The Situation And Fix Her Mistake

Abram could have taken many different paths here. Sarai is asking him to judge the situation properly.

• Be a righteous judge of this situation. She made a mistake and is asking Abram to fix this.
• And let’s hear Abram’s response to Sarai in the next verse.

[26] Genesis 16:6 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.

• Sarai goes to Abram so he can make the decision on the path to take.
• Wives, you should go to your husbands to make decisions for your household.
• Don’t make decisions for your husband without asking him. The husband is the head of the wife.
• Sarai wants to get away from her prior sin and do this the right way. This is how it should be done.
• Abram responds, “Behold, thy maid is in thy hand.”
• So now we see Abram acknowledge that Hagar still remains as Sarai’s maid.
• Hagar has not been elevated to Sarai’s status even though Sarai gave Hagar to Abram to wife.
• Abram still sees Sarai as his legitimate wife. Hagar is not equal with Sarai.

Abram says, “Do to her as it pleaseth thee.” And please remember, THEE is singular and means Sarai alone.

• Abram approves of whatever Sarai thinks should be done to Hagar. He trusts Sarai here.
• And what happens? The verse there says, “And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.”
• So Sarai deals hardly with her. What does that mean?
• If you look up the same underlying Hebrew word within the Bible, you’ll see these words:
• Afflict, submit, defiled, to humble, forced, weakened, hurt, chasten, troubled, afflicted, and humbled.
• The Bible doesn’t say exactly what Sarai did, but we know she dealt HARDLY with her.
• The hard dealing Sarai did with Hagar results in Hagar running away from the face of Sarai.

[27] Genesis 16:7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

• This is the first time the word ANGEL is seen in the entire Bible.
• We’re going to learn more about this angel in the next Scriptures.
• The angel of the Lord found Hagar by a fountain of water in the wilderness in the way to Shur.
• Where is Shur? Where is this fountain of water? It’s down in the south towards Egypt.

[28] Genesis 25:17-18 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people. 18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

• Notice this Scripture is from Genesis Chapter 25 speaking about Ishmael.
• Remember, we’re in Genesis Chapter 16 talking about Hagar who is currently pregnant with Ishmael.
• We see that Ishmael’s people dwell from Havilah unto Shur that is BEFORE EGYPT.
• We see in Genesis Chapter 25 that Ishmael dies in the presence of all his brethren.

[29] Exodus 15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

• Moving forward in the Bible to Exodus.
• We see Moses bring the children of Israel out into the wilderness of Shur.

[30] 1 Samuel 15:7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.

• Moving forward even more to 1 Samuel Chapter 15. We see Shur mentioned here.
• King Saul smites the Amalekites from Havilah until Shur which is over against Egypt.
• The angel of the Lord meets Hagar by the fountain of water in the wilderness on the way to Shur.
• Hagar is pregnant at this time in Genesis Chapter 16.

[31] Genesis 16:8 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.

• An angel is a messenger from God. Notice exactly what the angel of the Lord says here.
• “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou?” He calls her “Sarai’s maid.”
• He’s letting her know that she is still Sarai’s maid. Where did you come from?
• And where will you go? She says, “I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.”
• A mistress is the female head of the family just as Sarai was. She was Abram’s legitimate wife.

Do you think the angel of the Lord knew the answers to those questions? Yes, He did know the answers.

• But, within the Bible, God still asks the questions for our benefit. He already knows everything.
• So, who is this angel of the Lord? Let’s keep reading to find out.

[32] Genesis 16:9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

• This angel of the Lord commands Hagar to return to Sarai and submit to Sarai.
• Hagar was raising herself up because she was now pregnant through Abram.
• She is the one who now despised Sarai. It wasn’t the other way around.
• Sarai only reacted to this because Hagar despised Sarai. This angel commands her to go back.
• Let’s see what else this ANGEL OF THE LORD says to Hagar.

[33] Genesis 16:10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

• When you’re reading and studying the Bible, every word is important.
• The angel of the Lord said unto her, “I will multiply thy seed exceedingly.”
• Notice He says, “I.” Only God can do something like this. This angel of the Lord is God.
• And if this angel of the Lord is God, who would this be speaking to Hagar directly? Jesus Christ.
• The first time the word ANGEL is found in all the Bible and it’s very fitting that it’s Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ, The Son Of God, Is “THE” Angel Of The Lord

Jesus is “THE” messenger of the God. I’ve written an entire sermon called “Angels In The Bible.”

• So I’m not going to go into this in detail as we don’t have time. But there are different types of angels.
• There are living creatures or beasts called cherubim and seraphim but there are human angels too.
• And Jesus Christ is “THE” messenger of God the Father. Evangelist has the word angel within it.
• Evangelists, the true ones, bring messages from God through His words in the Bible.
• I also don’t have time to show you all of the Scriptures, but Jesus Christ shows up throughout the Old Testament.

Jacob wrestles with God. He sees God face to face. Who was he wrestling with? Jesus Christ.

• No man can see God the Father face to face and live. But with Jesus, they have seen His face.
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace.
• Guess who came down from heaven to save them out of this fiery furnace like hell?

[34] Daniel 3:24-25 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

• The Son of God comes down and saves them.

[35] Daniel 3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

[36] Daniel 3:27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

• Now, notice what this next Scripture says exactly.

[37] Daniel 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

• That’s the word of God coming out of Nebuchadnezzar’s mouth right there.
• “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who hath sent HIS ANGEL.”
• “And delivered his servants that TRUSTED IN HIM.”
• There’s the way to be saved right there. Jesus Christ is “THE ANGEL OF THE LORD.”
• So, we know Jesus Christ comes to talk with Hagar in Genesis Chapter 16.
• He tells Hagar, “I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.”
• God is comforting Hagar here. God cares for people. He created us and He cares for us.

[38] Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

[39] Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

• God sees the distress of Hagar is good to her here. He’s helping her and comforting her.
• Her son isn’t going to be a servant to others as she is a servant to Sarai.
• Her seed is going to be multiplied exceedingly through her unborn son.
• In Genesis Chapter 17, we also see Abram asking God to bless his son Ishmael.

[40] Genesis 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

[41] Genesis 17:20-21 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

• God tells Abram, I have heard thee regarding Ishmael. “Behold, I have blessed him.”
• “And will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. Twelve princes shall he beget.”
• Ishmael will have 12 sons who will be princes. No more servants such as Hagar.
• This will comfort Hagar that her son and family will no longer be servants.
• Let’s continue in Genesis Chapter 16.

[42] Genesis 16:11 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.

• Only God, at that time, could tell Hagar that she would have a son. “Thou shalt bear a son.”
• “Thou shalt call his name Ishmael because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.”
• The name Ishmael means “THE LORD HATH HEARD THY AFFLICTION.”

[43] Genesis 16:12 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.

• So, Hagar and Ishmael are not easy subjects to figure out within the Bible.
• You can ask yourselves: “Was Hagar saved? Did she have faith in God?”
• From this chapter, it sure does appear that way, right? Personally, I think Hagar is a saved woman.
• Ishmael, though, is more difficult in my opinion. Personally, I don’t think Ishmael was saved.
• And yes, I could change my mind on that because I’m not 100% sure.

I could be 100% wrong on that. I do know that Ishmael represents the children of the flesh.

• But the Bible also says that this is an allegory or a like image.
• Personally, though, I do not believe Ishmael was saved. Yes, God blessed him.
• But why did God bless him with lots of children? Because Abram and Hagar prayed for Ishmael.
• God answered their prayers, but this doesn’t mean Ishmael believed on God Almighty.
• God can definitely help and bless the ungodly any time that He wants.
• We just saw that Ishmael will be a WILD MAN. His hand will be against every man.
• And every man’s against him. We see that he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

God Sends Hagar Back To Sarai To Have Her Child And Raise Him There

So here in Genesis Chapter 16, we see God tell Hagar to go back to Sarai.

• If we look forward to Genesis Chapter 21, we’ll see that Abraham kicks Hagar and Ishmael out.
• God knows this is going to happen. Why would He tell her to go back?
• God wants her to go through all of these troubles. Ishmael would grow up in the home of Abraham.
• He would be raised in that home. And God knew that Abraham would command his household.
• But, a man can command his household all he wants but he can’t make a son believe on Jesus Christ.
• We have other examples of sons who were raised by Godly men like Eli and Samuel.
• Eli’s sons were children of Belial or children of the devil. They were reprobates or rejects.

[44] Genesis 21:7-9 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age. 8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. 9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

• Abraham and Sarah are celebrating with a great feast the day that Isaac is weaned.
• He’s still a very young child. What happens here? Ishmael is at least 14 years old here.
• And he’s mocking during this great feast. Sarah sees Ishmael mocking. She’s not happy at all.

[45] Genesis 21:10-11 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.

• Sarah says that this bondwoman and her son should be cast out.
• “For the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.”
• This was very grievous to Abraham because Ishmael was his son. The Lord speaks to Abraham.

[46] Genesis 21:12-13 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. 13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

• God tells Abraham that Sarah is right. What she said is right. Hearken unto her voice.
• “For in Isaac shall they seed be called.” And this has multiple meanings.
• Isaac is a child of the promise. Abraham believed that promise from God.
• Ishmael is not the son of that promise. Ishmael is a result of the flesh trying to do this on its own.
• Abram and Sarai, with Ishmael, do not wait on the Lord and try to do it on their own through the flesh.
• This wasn’t Ishmael’s fault. This wasn’t Hagar’s fault as she was a servant.
• But Hagar and Ishmael are going to be affected by this sin of Abram and Sarai.

Look closely, though, at the Scriptures. “In Isaac shall they seed be called.” Through faith.

• Jesus Christ will come through the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are children of faith.
• To me, this means that Ishmael is not a child of faith. He’s not a child of the promise.
• But this could ONLY MEAN that Ishmael was not produced through faith. It was the opposite of that.
• When Abram and Sarai decided to do it their own way, this was through the flesh or through sin.
• With Isaac, this would happen through faith and through God’s promise. Why did God bless Ishmael then?

Some people will argue that Ishmael was saved and blessed because he was a good and righteous man.

• But look at verse 13 right there. What does that say? This is the truth.
• “And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.”
• Ishmael is blessed because he is the physical seed of Abraham.
• If he were the spiritual seed of Abraham, why would God tell Abraham to kick him out?
• You can study and think about all of these things on your own too.
• God can bless your children because of you, and your sin can hurt your children too.

[47] Genesis 21:14-15 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. 15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

• Abraham gives Hagar bread and a bottle of water. He sends them on their way. Hagar and Ishmael alone.
• They run out of water. She casts Ishmael under one of the shrubs.

[48] Genesis 21:16-17 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

• God heard the voice of the lad. Was Ishmael calling out to God to save them? I’m not sure.
• If he was and God heard his call, then Ishmael is saved. So, do you see how that question is very difficult?
• Or, was Ishmael just crying out in pain and wasn’t calling out to God to save them?

[49] Genesis 21:18-21 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. 19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. 20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. 21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

• Now you could say that the Bible says, “God was with the lad.” Does that mean he was saved?
• Or was God protecting him because of the promise to make him a great nation because of Abraham?
• God protects the unsaved all the time. I was unsaved for many years and God protected me all that time.
• He could have given up on me because everything was my fault. Everything I’ve done wrong is my fault.
• God would have been right to not protect me because I didn’t deserve it at all. BUT HE DID.
• So, to me, this doesn’t prove that Ishmael was saved. Let’s look to the New Testament.

The Book Of Galatians Teaches Against A Works Based Salvation Through Your Flesh

The Book of Galatians is teaching against a works based salvation. Why is that?

• What is a works based salvation? This is you trying to being saved through the works of your flesh.
• This is 100% the same as Abram and Sarai trying to have a child through their own works.
• Paul is teaching us this through the Holy Spirit within the Book of Galatians.

[50] Galatians 4:21-22 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

• We know for sure that this Scripture is talking about Sarah as the freewoman and Hagar as the bondmaid.
• Isaac is through the FREE WOMAN. Ishmael is through the BOND MAID.
• This is talking about being FREE versus being in BONDAGE.
• When we try to work our way to heaven, we are in bondage. We are not free until we have faith alone.
• When we put all our trust in Jesus Christ, we are free. When we think we’re good, we’re in bondage.

[51] Galatians 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

• Ishmael was born AFTER THE FLESH through a bond maid.
• This doesn’t say he was after the flesh, but God is using him to represent children of the flesh.
• Isaac was born after the promise through a free woman.

[52] Galatians 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

• God tells us that he’s using Sarah and Isaac versus Hagar and Ishmael as an allegory.
• This is a like figure so we’ll better understand salvation. Salvation is not through works in any way.
• This doesn’t make us free. We can’t work our way to heaven or do it on our own.
• When we try to do this, we’re sinning. You might say, “But we’re trying to do good to others.”
• Yes, but you aren’t doing these works in faith and they aren’t good in God’s eyes.
• Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
• A works based salvation is the opposite of faith and does not please God in any way, shape, or form.

Mount Sinai is where God gave Moses the law. Hagar is representing the Old Covenant.

• If you think you can get to heaven through that law, you must do the whole law your entire life.
• And we know 100% for sure that no one has ever done that BUT Jesus and no one but Jesus ever will.
• There’s none good. NO NOT ONE. We’ve all broken God’s laws. Hagar represents this bondage.

[53] Galatians 4:25-26 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

• Even Jerusalem, the one on earth right now, is in bondage with her children.
• The religion of Judaism believes in a works based salvation and hates the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Judaism is a false religion in every way, shape, and form. They are not actual Jews.
• Jesus is the King of the Jews. Since Jesus is not their King, they are not Jews. Jesus Himself says so.

[54] Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

• The people who practice Judaism in the man-made country of Israel today say they are Jews.
• But Jesus Christ says they aren’t because they won’t believe Him. They are children of the devil.
• They are the synagogue of Satan. Which religion has synagogues? JUDAISM.

[55] Galatians 4:27-28 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

• Paul says, WE BRETHREN, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. We’re just like Isaac.
• Who is Paul talking to right there in this book? He isn’t talking to physical Jews.
• The Galatians weren’t physical Jews. He isn’t talking to physical children of Abraham. Right? He’s not.
• But Paul says we are just like Isaac because we are children of the promise who have faith in Jesus Christ.

[56] Galatians 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

• We see that Ishmael persecuted he that was born after the flesh. The Bible says so.
• So, was Ishmael a good person? To me, it sure doesn’t sound like it. He was a wild man.
• But you can argue both ways. You could say this is only an allegory and it’s not actually saying that Ishmael was born after the flesh and stayed that way.

[57] Galatians 4:30-31 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

• We are not like Ishmael. We are like Isaac because we are free in Jesus Christ.
• His sacrifice makes us free. Our sacrifices do not make us free. Our works do not save us in any way.
• The works of Jesus Christ save us, and we simply put all our trust on HIM ALONE.
• Now, please understand than any of the seed of Hagar could be saved.
• God loves every child that is born into this world.
• He continues to love them even when they won’t trust in Him. I am proof of that. My life testifies of that.
• But, if you continue to reject God, God can reject you and you won’t have a chance to be saved.
• So, please, right now, call out to God from within and ask Him to save you. Tell Him you trust Him 100%.

We can make all types of arguments for Ishmael being saved and Ishmael not being saved.

• I’m going with not saved. Ishmael made his own choices. Every person alive makes their own choice.
• Abraham couldn’t make Ishmael believe and trust in God. I can’t make you or my children believe.
• It’s up to them. God made it that way, and it’s the perfect way.
• God says that Abraham had only one son, Isaac. God didn’t see Ishmael as the legitimate son of Abraham.
• You might even call Ishmael the bastard son of Abraham.

Abram Wasn’t Married To Hagar In God’s Eyes

According to God, Abraham wasn’t married to Hagar. A child born outside of marriage is called a bastard.

• But make sure you understand something. Being a bastard child is not the child’s fault.
• That’s on the parents. As parents, don’t make your child’s life tougher because of your sin.
• A bastard child of the flesh doesn’t mean that child has to be a spiritual bastard.
• I want to give you one example from the Bible of one of my favorite people in the Bible, Jephthah.
• He was a judge within the Book of Judges, and he was a bastard child. He was a man of God.
• God chose Jephthah to be a judge. He’s in heaven right now.

[58] Judges 11:1-2 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. 2 And Gilead’s wife bare him sons; and his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.

• So please understand that being a physical bastard is not important in being saved. God says so.
• Your life will be more difficult just as Jephthah’s but NO ONE can stop you from believing in God but you.
• NO ONE CAN STOP YOU FROM SERVING GOD. It’s your choice. It’s your decision.
• And when you think about legitimate children in the Bible, think to Jacob and Leah.
• Think to Jacob and Rachel. Which woman did Jacob marry first? Leah.
• Judah came from Leah. The physical line of Jesus Christ came from Leah.
• Joseph came from Rachel. Was Joseph a legitimate son since Jacob married Leah first? You tell me.

Rahab the harlot is in the line of Jesus Christ. Tamar tricks Judah into having a relationship with her.

• Pharez is born of that relationship. Judah’s daughter in law has Pharez. Jesus Christ comes from that line.
• We need to understand that our flesh is corrupted. We’ve corrupted it, and we need a perfect Savior.
• That perfect Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ. He will save you if you simply believe on Him.
• Let’s finish Genesis Chapter 16. We left off in verse 13.

[59] Genesis 16:13-14 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 Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

• Hagar calls the name of the Lord “THOU GOD SEEST ME.” What does she say right here?
• She says, “Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?” God saw her and she saw Him.
• Jesus Christ appeared to her in this place, and He appears throughout the Old Testament.
• He is “THE” Angel of the Lord God Almighty. He protects and comforts us just as He does for Hagar.
• The well was called Beer-lahai-roi and it’s between Kadesh and Bered.
• Beer-lahai-roi means that God lives and God sees. He is alive and He sees everything.

[60] 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

• The eyes of the Lord are everywhere. When you’re doing bad, God’s eyes see the bad you’re doing.
• You can’t hide from God. When you do good, God’s eyes see the good that you’re doing.

[61] Genesis 16:15-16 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.

• Hagar bares a son just as Jesus Christ told her. Abram called his son’s name Ishmael.
• Ishmael is born when Abram is FOUR SCORE and SIX years old. A score is 20 years.
• So four score and six is 86 years old. Remember, Isaac will be born when Abraham is 100 years old.
• That’s the end of Genesis Chapter 16. The Book of Genesis is an absolutely amazing book.
• We ask God for His wisdom to understand the Book of Genesis as we continue through this book.

Let’s pray.