Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
Genesis 16
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. 3 So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)
4 So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”
6 Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. 3 So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)
4 So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”
6 Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.
Commentary:
16:2 Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. The Hebrew idiom implies that Abram obeyed Sarai. Abram is possibly criticized here for conceding too readily to his wife’s request (see v. 6).
16:3 as a wife. Hagar’s status within Abram’s household is changed from servant to wife, although this does not place her on a par with Sarai (see note on 25:5–6). While the OT records occasions when particular individuals have more than one wife, such instances are almost always fraught with complications and difficulties. The taking of multiple wives is never encouraged in the Bible (see 2:24; Deut. 17:17) and usually arises out of peculiar circumstances. (For more on polygamy, see Marriage and Sexual Morality.)
16:4 Hagar’s ability to conceive causes her to look down on Sarai.
16:5–7 Sarai initially directs her anger at Abram, who acquiesces in the situation, permitting Sarai to deal harshly with Hagar. The human solution to Sarai’s barrenness creates new problems.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 78.
16:3 as a wife. Hagar’s status within Abram’s household is changed from servant to wife, although this does not place her on a par with Sarai (see note on 25:5–6). While the OT records occasions when particular individuals have more than one wife, such instances are almost always fraught with complications and difficulties. The taking of multiple wives is never encouraged in the Bible (see 2:24; Deut. 17:17) and usually arises out of peculiar circumstances. (For more on polygamy, see Marriage and Sexual Morality.)
16:4 Hagar’s ability to conceive causes her to look down on Sarai.
16:5–7 Sarai initially directs her anger at Abram, who acquiesces in the situation, permitting Sarai to deal harshly with Hagar. The human solution to Sarai’s barrenness creates new problems.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 78.
Questions:
- Instead of trusting in God's plan and promises, Sarai comes up with her own. So Abram sleeps with Hagar, the servant, and she becomes pregnant. This causes Hagar to be filled with contempt for Sarai, which then causes Sarai to be upset with Abram and blame him for everything. Every relationship is broken over this sinful decision and Sarai's plan has officially backfired. SIN and SILENCE will breed MORE SUFFERING. Abram and Sarai's suffering has now deepened even more. Have you seen this truth play out in your own life, either in yourself or someone you know? How so?
- When we step outside the will of God and try to take matters into our own hands, the consequences often spiral out of control. St. Augustine once said, "Sin becomes the punishment of sin." Is there a situation in your life right now where your refusal to trust God is causing you to suffer? Are you turning to sin instead of Him?
Pray:
- That you would learn to trust God and His ways.
- That you would never turn to sinful solutions to your problems.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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