Genesis 16 Commentary
So far, our understanding is that Abram is childless. 15v3. He remains childless until Ishmael of this chapter. We maintain this view until we meet Abram’s other children, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. These came from Abram’s wife Keturah. 25v1.
He probably had other sons by his concubines. 25v6.
The sinful process with Hagar is probably the same with his other wives. Yes, the same thought process – satisfying insufficiency with sin.
But we have a glimmer of hope in the thought that, even at this stage, Abram thought of himself as childless because his wife was childless. His other children didn’t count under the original plan of God. Something deep within Abram informed him of the “one man and one woman” plan of God. He needed to have children under this plan.
What made Sarai think someone could bore children on her behalf? Strange!
This chapter brings to the fore the fallacy of this particular sin. To Abram, all would be his children, regardless of the woman involved. But to the women, ‘x’ is mine while ‘y’ isn’t. The natural divide remains in place.
And who would blame Hagar? She attained the status of a wife when Abram went in with her, albeit against the original plan of God. She deserved the same status. How dare Sarai think of her as a slave at this time?
Sin brings in complications, too complex to unwind. There isn’t a quick trip into sinland! The LORD God has an interest in the outcome of that trip. You must live with the consequences of the trip, regardless of the permissions you legally obtain from fellow sinful humans!
On the other hand, a sin situation won’t make a goat into a sheep. A goat remains a goat. Hagar is addressed as Sarai’s slave by the angel. When the LORD God addresses you as a slave of ‘X’, then you ask no more questions about your status.
Ishmael is a human being crafted by the hands of the LORD. Of course, humans illegally swap containers and disobediently decide the wrong factory exit point. Yes, the product is there but humans have mishandled aspects of the process! Complications ensue.
“Go to your mistress and submit to her”. Vs 9. Life has a way to always want to get back to the original. There are steps you won’t skip. There are no substitutes. “Servants, obey your masters.” Some things never change!
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