Gen 16:1
Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar: This is a common thing that we humans do. We try to help God. God told Abram that he would have a child from his own seed, but Sarai was barren. So, the logic goes something like, "God said you would have a baby, so maybe he meant for you to have it with Hagar. I'm barren, and God said that, so He must have meant Hagar, right?"
Gen 16:2
So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai: And we see the, "God said we'd have a baby, so we must make it happen" logic being used in this situation. Sarai and Abraham try to help God. They believe that God restrained Sarai from having children, so their reasoning is that God must have meant that Abram's heir would come from Hagar. Let this be a lesson. God does not need our help, and he doesn't do doublespeak. If God says that your 80 year old wife will have a baby, that's what He means. He doesn't mean for you to sleep with your maid. I'm not casting aspersions here. I fully understand the desperation that people feel, especially when it comes to biological functions, but these events are recorded here for growth, and we need to learn from them so we don't fall into the same traps.
Gen 16:3
Then Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan: Think about this. God promised Abram a child, and that his descendents would be innumerable, but after ten years, Sarai was still barren. I know we're supposed to wait upon the Lord (Isa 40:31), but ten years is a long time, especially when they were both fairly old. It may have been wrong what Abram and Sarai did, but at least I can understand their reasoning.
Gen 16:4
So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes: During this time, being barren was considered a curse. So when Hagar got pregnant, it's no wonder that Hagar despised Sarai, especially bringing jealousy and pride into the situation.
Gen 16:5
Then Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me.": Sarai then blames Abram. This whole situation is messed up. It's wrong all around, and now comes the blame game.
Gen 16:6
So Abram said to Sarai, "Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please." And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence: Abram tells Sarai to do what she wants in relation to Hagar. This seems to me that Abram is again passing the blame back to Sarai. Abram is presenting his side as if he didn't have any part of it. Hagar is "indeed your maid." No mention that Hagar was Abram's wife now. So in essence, Abram is saying, "She's just your maid to me. I only slept with her because of you. I don't care what you do with her." Sarai is so harsh with Hagar that Hagar had to flee. People! Polygamy never works!! It will never work!
Gen 16:7
Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur: "The Angel of the LORD" is not just any angel. This is Jesus. Hagar was an Egyptian (Gen 16:3), and was heading back to Egypt.
Gen 16:8
And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.": Why would Jesus call Hagar Sarai's maid? Could it be that God didn't consider Hagar's marriage to Abram valid? Remember, God had told Abram that his descendents would come from himself, and God had already established that one man and one woman would come together to form one flesh. While it's not explicitly said here, the clues point to God not validating their marriage.
Gen 16:9
The Angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.": I like how John Wesley put it: "Go home and humble thyself for what thou hast done amiss, and resolve for the future to behave thyself better." Jesus was saying that the whole situation was a mess, and to go back and fix it.
Gen 16:10
Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.": This is a very similar promise to Hagar that God gave to Abram. Notice the language here. "I will multiply." Who is speaking? The Angel of the LORD is speaking. Who says, "I will?" Angels don't. God does... The Angel of the LORD is Jesus, and Jesus is God.
Gen 16:11
And the Angel of the LORD said to her: "Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has heard your affliction.: Jesus knows everything about Hagar. He tells her that she's pregnant, and to name him Ishmael. Ishmael means "God will hear." God heard her sorrow and came to comfort her.
Gen 16:12
He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.: I don't know if this part of what Jesus tells Hagar was a comfort though. Basically, Jesus tells Hagar that Ishmael will be a difficult person. He'll be in conflict with those around him.
Gen 16:13
Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are- the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, "Have I also here seen Him who sees me?": It's plainly stated here that "the Angel of the LORD" was God. It was the preincarnate Jesus. Hagar is in disbelief because who would believe that God would visit them? I know I'd be in total disbelief. I mean, it couldn't be God, right?? Right!?
Gen 16:14
Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered: Beer Lahai Roi means "The well of Him that lives and sees me." Unfortunately, the well has been lost, but there are some people who believe they know where it's at.
Gen 16:15
So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael: Hagar obeyed God and went back. Her son was born, and Abram named him Ishmael, just as God said. The conversation that must have been had upon Hagar's return would have been epic.
Gen 16:16
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram: Abraham dies at 175, so he still has 89 years left Gen 25:7-8
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