Genesis 16 narrates the story of Hagar, Sarai (later Sarah), and Abram (later Abraham) as they grapple with impatience, faith, and God’s promises. Sarai, unable to conceive a child, offers her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, to Abram as a surrogate in hopes of producing an heir. This act of using a servant as a surrogate was culturally accepted at the time but signifies Sarai’s struggle to trust in God’s timing for His promise to give her and Abram descendants.

Hagar becomes pregnant, and tension arises between her and Sarai. Feeling scorned, Sarai deals harshly with Hagar, prompting her to flee into the wilderness. In her solitude, Hagar encounters an angel of the Lord, who reassures her, instructing her to return to Sarai and submit to her. The angel reveals that her son will be named Ishmael, meaning “God hears,” for the Lord has heard her suffering. Hagar’s encounter with God here is significant because it marks one of the few instances in the Bible where God speaks directly to a woman, giving her a promise about her child’s future.

The angel tells her that Ishmael will become the father of a great nation but will lead a life marked by strife. Hagar names the Lord “El Roi,” meaning “the God who sees me,” acknowledging God’s attentiveness to her plight. She returns to Abram and Sarai, and Ishmael is born.

Genesis 16 is a powerful chapter about the human tendency to act out of impatience and lack of faith, yet it also illustrates God’s compassion and provision for those who suffer and feel unseen. It highlights themes of obedience, patience, and God’s faithfulness, even when human decisions lead to conflict and suffering.

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