“So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife.” (Genesis 16:3, NIV).
This part of Abram's story is both discouraging and encouraging. This is Abram's and Sarai's effort to by-pass God and take matters into their own hands. Perhaps they were playing with semantics, because in Genesis 15 God had promised an offspring to Abram but He did not specify that Sarai would be the mother. Whatever takes place, Sarai does what appears to be the unthinkable:
“so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said.” (Genesis 16:2, NIV).
Hagar, Sarai's servant conceives and this child born to her causes increased strife. Perhaps driven by pride, Hagar treats Sarai with contempt. "This must mean that in some way Hagar took advantage of the position that Sarai had allowed her to occupy and disregarded the fact that she was still Sarai’s maid. Rather unreasonably, Sarai puts the blame for the domestic unhappiness onto Abram, though it was her idea." [1]
Mathew Henry who has written one of the best devotional commentaries makes these points:
(1.) Foul temptations may have very fair pretenses, and be coloured with that which is very plausible.
(2.) Fleshly wisdom, as it anticipates God’s time of mercy, so it puts us out of God’s way.
(3.) This would be happily prevented if we would ask counsel of God by the word and by prayer, before we attempt that which is important and suspicious. Herein Abram was wanting; he married without God’s consent. This persuasion came not of him that called him." [2]
Whenever we have God's promise, we must be careful not to bring that promise to pass in our own flesh. Such behavior leads to disaster. But one should note, this attempt to manipulate the results had a context -- a context that has an interesting parallel in Genesis 3. It does not exempt Abram from responsibility but "the attitude and deed of Sarai exhibited her lack of faith. Attempting to usurp the leadership of her husband and use her own plan, she sought to manipulate the fulfillment of the promise of a “seed” for Abram through her maid." [3] Abram conceded to violate God's plan for marriage. The result polygamy, conflict and sin.
The point is that a lack of faith doesn't appear in a vacuum. It is usually preceded by choices or a lifestyle that contribute to the appearance of doubt.
Father, the warning here is so clear. Why do I think that I am the exception? Why would I think that I can manipulate Your plans with my own carnal devices and hope to succeed? Father there is encouragement here though too. Abram is Your friend and one that You granted righteousness too, yet he stumbled. Faith and trust in You is not a one-time event. Everyday I must awaken believing Your promises. Everyday I must live in ongoing, continual faith in You. There is blessing for those of us who wait on You. Help me not to be in a hurry.
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1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (50). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
2. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (42). Peabody: Hendrickson.
3. Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Ge 16:2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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