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ANOTHER TEST OF FAITH

Text: Genesis 16
20 September 2011

(I) ANOTHER TEST OF FAITH

1. Waiting upon God for an heir

a) Promise of God

An heir will be given to Abram (Genesis 15:4)

b) Period of waiting

Ten years (Genesis 16:3)

i) Abram left Haran for Canaan at 75 years (Genesis 12:4)

ii) He was now 85 years old

2. Testing of faith

a) Abram

b) Sarai

(II) OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE

1. Sarai offers her maid, Hagar to be Abram’s second wife (Genesis 16:2-3)

a) She had been barren all these years

b) Sarai, as the head wife would effectively be the mother of the baby to be born out of this union

2. Abram concurs

a) He marries Hagar

b) Soon Hagar has a child (Genesis 16:4)

(III) BACKFIRING OF THE ALTERNATIVE

Trouble brewed

1. Hagar despises Sarai

2. Sarai complains to Abram

3. Abram’s response

a) Calls Hagar a maid (Genesis 16:6a)

b) Allows Sarah to treat her only as a maid and not as Abram’s second wife (Genesis 16:6b)

4. Sarah treats Hagar harshly (Genesis 16:6a)

(IV) HAGAR FLEES FROM ABRAM’S HOUSEHOLD

1. Hagar flees to escape from Sarai (Genesis 16:6b)

2. Special Visitation from The Angel of the LORD (Genesis 16:7-12)

a) Appearance to Hagar (Genesis 16:7-8)

b) Instruction to return to Abram’s household

And to submit to Sarai

c) Promise of the Angel of the LORD

Physical descendants would be blessed (Genesis 16:10)

d) Blessing of Ishmael (God hears) (Genesis 16:11)

e) Character: He will be a wild man (Genesis 16:12)

(V) HAGAR’S NEW-FOUND FAITH

1. Identified the Angel of the LORD

2. Special title accorded

“You are the God who sees” Genesis 16:13

3. Obedience

She returns to Abram’s household and in time gives birth to Ishmael (Genesis 16:15)

(VI) ABRAM

1. Age: He was 86 years old when Ishmael was born (Genesis 16:16)

2. Faith: Not very consistent