1. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
WELCOME TO THE MOB!
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

2. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
Announcements
Welcome to the MOB!
Website:
Next MOB Meeting: December 11, 2018
Go see The Worship of Christmas musical at IBC, December 6, 7, 8, 9, Buy tickets online.
Please rise for a hymn of praise & invocation
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

3. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
Memory Verse
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

4. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
Last Meeting
Review:
Genesis 13:1 – 14:24
Encountering Genesis, Chapters 5 – 7, pages 74 – 91
Read:
Genesis 15:1-21
Encountering Genesis, Chapter 7, pages 91 – 96
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

5. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
This Meeting
Review:
Genesis 15:1-21
Encountering Genesis, Chapter 7, pages 91 – 96
Read:
Genesis 16:1-16
Encountering Genesis, Chapter 7, page 96
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

6. Genesis Overview Focus Topic Four Events Four People Division Location
Reference
1:1 –
2:25
3:1 – 5:32
6:1 –
9:29
10:1 – 11:9
11:10 –
25:18
25:19 – 26:35
27:1 – 36:43
37:1 –
50:26
Division
Creation
Fall
Flood
Nations
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Joseph
Topic
The Human Race
The Chosen Race (Hebrews)
Primeval History / Historical
Patriarchal History / Biographical
Location
Fertile Crescent
( Eden – Haran )
Canaan
( Haran – Canaan )
Time
cir. 2,000 years
( cir – 2090 B.C. )
193 years
( 2090 – 1897 B.C. )
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

7. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
Genesis Divisions
בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית (bereshith) = Beginnings (of many things)
Greek = Genesis = Origin, Source, Generation, Beginning
תוֹלְד֧וֹת (toledoth) = “These are the generations of…” or “This is the history of…” or “account of…” 10 sections:
Prologue (Genesis 1:1 – 2:3)
The generations of heaven and earth (Genesis 2:4 – 4:26)
The generations of Adam (Genesis 5:1 – 6:8)
The generations of Noah (Genesis 6:9 – 9:29)
The generations of the sons of Noah (Genesis 10:1 – 11:9)
The generations of Shem (Genesis 11:10 – 26)
The generations of Terah (Genesis 11:27 – 25:11)
The generations of Ishmael (Genesis 25:12 – 18)
The generations of Isaac (Genesis 25:19 – 35:29)
The generations of Esau (Genesis 36:1 – 37:1)
The generations of Jacob (Genesis 37:2 – 50:26)
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

8. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
1  Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

9. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
7 The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the LORD said to her,
“Behold, you are pregnant     and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael,     because the LORD has listened to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man,     his hand against everyone     and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.”
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

10. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
13 So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.
15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

11. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

12. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
Review
God explains more about His covenant with Abram and His promises
Abram’s heir is such a concern that he has already named Eliezer as his, vv.2-3
God declares that Abram’s own offspring will be his son, v.4
Abram believes, but still has questions, v.8
God gives him great detail about his descendants, even their time in Egypt before taking possession of the promised land, vv.13-21
He promises a good, long life for Abram
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

13. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
Overview
Sarai and Hagar are the main emphasis here
The last time Sarai is mentioned is the return from Egypt, 13:1
This is the first mention of Hagar
Abram’s heir is still an issue (no son yet), but here it’s Sarai’s bareness that’s the focus of the problem
Sarai’s solution is for Abram to have a child with Hagar
This was an accepted custom of the time in that land
The rest of the chapter is about this solution
Sarai, Hagar, and Ishmael (Abram’s son)
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

14. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
1  Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.
Observation & Interpretation:
Since this starts out with the wife and leads to a “problem,” many see it having a direct connection to Genesis 3 (Encountering p.96)
The mention of Hagar being Egyptian seems to connect this with the end of Ch.15 (BKC, EBC). She is only mentioned in Genesis 16, 21 and 25. Paul mentions her in Gal 4 (below)
Even though Sarai attributes her condition to God, her solution is not His, Gal 4:23-24
Sarai’s plan is in line with the culture of her day, since the child of her servant by Abram would be considered hers (BKC)
Abram listened to his wife, just as God said Adam did in Genesis 3:17
This plan of Sarai “worked” until after the conception; Sarai could not control the attitude of Hagar toward her (contempt – beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn)
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

15. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.
Observation & Interpretation:
As things start to go wrong, Sarai brings Abram in on the blame, similar to Eve assigning blame to the serpent in Genesis 3:13 (Proverbs 30:21-23)
Sarai implies that the Lord would determine who was really at fault, her or Abram, who seems to be caught in the middle of his family’s problem
Abram speaks for the first time in the chapter by telling Sarai to do with her servant as she pleases. He does not question her or her plan, but gives her the authority to handle it
This is the last time Abram is mentioned until the end of the chapter
Dr. Constable quotes a source in his notes, p.166, that this story is better than the many that could be written on the evils of polygamy (not God’s plan for marriage)
So, with Abram’s OK, Sarai mistreats Hagar so badly that she leaves
God has other plans
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

16. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
7 The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.”
Observation & Interpretation:
Constable says, p.166, that this is the first of 48 mentions of the “Angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament. Sometimes the appearance is Deity; at other times, an angelic messenger.
See the map of the Wilderness of Shur to see that Hagar seems to be returning to Egypt
Nowhere in these verses does the Angel refer to Hagar as Abram’s wife, only the servant of Sarai
v.10 seems to indicate that the Angel is God (θεοφάνεια – theophaneia - "appearance of god") as He gives Hagar a blessing similar to that given to Abram in Genesis 15.
This blessing seems to indicate that Hagar was being obedient to the Angel’s instructions
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

17. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
11 And the angel of the LORD said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” 13 So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. 15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
Observation & Interpretation:
Ishmael’s name had to be a reminder to all involved that “the Lord hears”
Constable, p.167, says that this description of Ishmael indicates that he would get the freedom for which his mother was searching
v.13 affirms that the Angel is Deity, but there is controversy over “seen him” (EBC)
Hagar’s interaction here is unique in the Old Testament, especially with her pointing out God’s characteristics of seeing and hearing (BKC, EBC)
God named Ishmael, but obviously Abram knew and gave his son that name
Abram has a son now, but Sarai is not mentioned and there is more to come!
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

18. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
Next Meeting
Review:
Genesis 16:1-16
Encountering Genesis, Chapter 7, page 96
Read:
Genesis 17
Encountering Genesis, Chapters 7 & 8, page
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

19. Discussion & Application
Genesis 16
Discussion & Application
Was Sarai alluding to God’s sovereignty or blaming Him in v.2?
Why do you think Abram went along with Sarai’s plan?
What effect do you think our faith should have on our patience concerning God’s will in our lives (Psalm 130:1,5)? What has been your experience with this?
If God sees and hears us shouldn’t that encourage us to trust Him?
Does it bother you that Hagar got this blessing? Why?
What does Abram naming his son Ishmael tell us?
Read Galatians 4:21-31 to see what the Apostle Paul wrote about this event. Note that the allegory in these verses applies only to the point the Apostle Paul is making and not to Genesis 16.
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

20. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
Closing
Questions
Benediction
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

21. Abrahamic Covenant Genesis 11:26 - 12:20
The first and basis for all Theocratic Covenants (Rule of God)
An Unconditional Covenant with Abram, descendants & others
Blessings of the Covenant:
National – “I will make you a great nation” (Genesis 12:2)
Personal – “I will bless you, make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2)
Universal – “I will bless those who bless you, curse those who curse you, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3)
Details confirmed later (Genesis 13:14-17; 15:1-7,18-21; 17:1-8)
Personal Aspects: Father of a Great Nation, Receive Personal Blessing, Receive Personal Honor & Reputation, and Bless Others
Universal Aspects: Blessings for those who bless, Curses for those who curse, and Blessings on all the Families of the Earth through the Messiah, Abraham’s son according to the flesh
More info:
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

22. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
Study References
Primary Reference: The Holy Bible (always)
Secondary Reference / Commentary: The Holy Bible (always)
“The Bible is always the best commentary on the Bible.”
Additional References (as time permits):
Encountering the Book of Genesis, Bill T. Arnold, Baker Books, 1998
Dr. Constable's Notes on Genesis (Full Commentary - FREE pdf download)
Hebrew Interlinear (look up the meaning of the original Hebrew words)
BKC- The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1)
EBC- The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers
(Vol. 2)
Others references available at and online
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

23. Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)
Bible Study
Inductive Bible Study Approach:
Observation – What does it say?
Interpretation – What does it mean?
Application – How do I apply this in my life?
Primary Reference: The Holy Bible
Secondary Reference / Commentary: The Holy Bible
Additional References:
Encountering the Book of Genesis, Bill T. Arnold, Baker Books, 1998
Dr. Constable's Notes on Genesis (Full Commentary - FREE pdf download)
Grace to You - John MacArthur's sermons on Genesis (audio files & transcripts)
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

24. Interpreting Scripture
(Ref. IBC What We Teach)
1. Normal - understanding the words of Scripture in their common usage unless otherwise indicated by the context.
2. Literal - understanding the meaning of Scripture in its ordinary sense unless the context requires a figurative interpretation.
3. Grammatical - using the recognized rules of grammar to interpret the text.
4. Historical - understanding the words of Scripture in the context of the times in which they were written.
5. Systematic - categorizing and comparing the teaching of the Scriptures with the whole of Scripture in view.
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)

25. Terah’s descendants November 27, 2018
Holman book of Bible Charts and Maps
November 27, 2018
Genesis 16:1-16 A Carnal Plan for Children (Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael)