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Bible Study Online ArticleLocated at the Bottom of Page In the last article, the Sacred Record revealed that Abram was beginning to worry about the future of his household. Remember that Abram had become increasingly concerned, that he hadn't yet, been given an heir by his wife Sarai.
Abram's concern, had become so great, that the Lord had begun to take notice: "Do not be afraid Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." The Lord would tell him. But Abram needed to hear more than what the Lord had just told him: "O Sovereign Lord, what more can you give to me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is my personal servant Eliezer of Damascus? "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir." -- Genesis 15:2,3 And of course, the Lord would go further, by instructing Abram to go outside. And once Abram was outside, the Lord said: "Eliezer of Damascus will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.' Then He brought him outside and said, 'Look up at the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring will be.'" -- Genesis 15:4,5 However that may be, we move forward... And it's at this point from within our journey, where we find, that Abram's wife, Sarai -- did not have any children that she could call her own. And of course, we'd already knew this from Abram. Since he'd already revealed his concerns to the Lord, when it came to him having an heir. Be that as it may, we now find his wife Sarai, beginning to express her concerns as well? But she would share those concerns with her husband, and not the Lord. She begins by telling Abram: "The Lord has kept me from having children." Now keep in mind, that this would be Sarai's main talking point, when it came to her -- trying to convince Abram, to go along with her plan, that she was concocting from within her mind. She continued her pitch, by telling Abram: "Go slept with my maidservant named Hagar, perhaps I can build a family through her." Now Abram didn't put up too much of a fight, when Sarai had made this suggestion. For we would find, that eventually, Abram had decided to go along with his wife's plan. And being that Abram didn't really resist, or rebuke his wife for having such a plan? His decision propels me, to entertain the notion, that perhaps -- Abram himself, had now grown more impatient with the Lord, even though God (not too long ago) -- had already reassured him, that he had nothing to worry about? I mean after all, with Abram being a man of great faith, could it have been possible, that he was starting to doubt God - again? And if this was the case, this would have caused his faith, and thought process, to be compromised? And if this was the case, and Abram was somewhat blinded by his doubt, this could have caused him -- to possibly think, that perhaps, the "promised seed" that God had foretold to him a short while ago - could possibly come from Hagar, instead of his wife Sarai? Now I don't know about you, but I didn't read anywhere, in God's statement -- that had instructed Abram, to go out and produce his heir through another woman? But you see, this is what happens, when we listen to the world, instead of God. Yeah I know, Sarai was his wife, but her mind -- was operating from out of the world. And this is why, from a worldly perspective, one could try to give Abram a pass, on what he'd just agreed to. I mean after all, he was beginning to doubt God, in spite of what the Lord had told him. So could we blame Abram, for eventually leaning towards his own natural understanding of things? Because, from one's natural perspective of things, Sarai was in her advanced years? So maybe, just maybe, Hagar is the one -- that should bear the "promise seed" for Abram's household? I mean it does make sense, from a natural perspective - right? But personally, I truly believe, that when one listens to the world, instead of God -- then that person his doing nothing, but inviting worldly problems into their life. Okay, enough with my rant. Let's move forward, so we can see, how things go for Abram's household... So Abram agreed to Sarai's proposal, and he'd married the Egyptian maidservant Hagar. Abram would end up laying with his new wife, and that night, Hagar would become pregnant with Abram's child. So everything going to plan - right? Or so it would seem? Next we find, that the Sacred Record reveals, that Hagar's attitude towards Sarai -- would begin to change for the worse. Know that Hagar had begun to despise, and look down on Sarai. She did this, because Sarai was barren, and she couldn't bring Abram an heir, like her husband wanted. And because of this new negative attitude that Hagar had adopted, she began to boast, that she was a better woman than Sarai. Now in the meantime, Sarai becomes extremely upset, when it came to the way that Hagar was treating her. So she goes and confronts Abram about Hagar's behavior towards her: "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows that she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me?" -- Genesis 16:5 Now after hearing what his wife Sarai, had to say. Abram would try to counter her claims, by saying: "Your servant is in your hands. Do with her whatever you think best." But in a way, it was Abram's fault, even though Sarai had came up with the plan -- he'd agreed to it. And now, instead of Abram being obedient, and keeping his faith strong in the Lord -- so he could get his blessing that the Lord had promised him. Now, Abram will find himself, facing major problems. However, because of Hagar's negative attitude towards Sarai, she would in turn -- begin to mistreat Hagar as well. Know that Sarai's treatment towards Hagar, was so harsh and severe, that the Egyptian maidservant would eventually leave Abram's household. Now Hagar would venture out, until she comes to a fresh water spring, that she found in the desert -- beside a road that led to Shur, which was also known as "The Wilderness of Shur." Know that the meaning of this name "Shur" signifies "wall" or "enclosure." Also know that it was a place, that was used as an important part of Egypt's defenses, that had helped to protect their north-eastern borders. Now I'm pointing this out to you, because this little detail, would seem to give us some further insight -- when it came to where, Hagar was going. For it would seem, that she was on her way back, to her homeland -- when she had stopped at this fresh water spring to replenish herself, and to rest her pregnant body. Now soon after, while she was still resting, an angel of the Lord would come and visit her. And upon doing so, the angel said: "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?" And Hagar would reply by saying: "I'm running away from my mistress, Sarai." Now after hearing this, the angel told Hagar: "Go back to your mistress and submit to her and I will increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count. You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers." -- Genesis 16:9-12 Now after hearing this from the angel, Hagar would say: "You are the God who sees me. I have now seen the One who sees me." Understand that Hagar had spoken these words, as she dedicated the well that she was resting by, to the Lord. Know that this particular well, was located between Kadesh and Bered. And know that from that day on, the place would be called "Beer Lahai Roi" which means -- "the well of him that liveth." And after she had dedicated this place, Hagar would then head back to Abram's household, and bear him his son -- in which they did name, Ishmael. Know that Abram was 86 years old, when his first son was born. Now that Abram and Sarai have taken things into their own hands, Abram now has a son. But as we would find out, this was their plan, and not God's plan. And to make matters worse, Hagar and Sarai, don't get along. So what will the Lord do to Abram, now that He knows, that Abram had placed his trust in his own natural understanding of things, instead of trusting God's Word? **YOUR CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES - WOULD BE HERE** Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 01) Introduction of Abraham - Before He was Called 02) The Divine Calling of Abraham 04) The Strife between Abram and Lot 06) Abram's Mission to Rescue Lot 09) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE-> 10) Abraham the Father of a Multitude Added to page 10) The Abrahamic Covenant and its Modification 
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