Series Introduction: 

Today's sermon will be a continuation of our series on the life of Abram. In the previous week, we witnessed a significant moment in the life of Abram. During a period of uncertainty and anxiety, God appeared to Abram in a vision and reassured him of His faithfulness and promises. God promised Abram that he would have descendants as countless as the stars in the sky. Abram trusted in God's promise, and his faith was counted as righteousness. God then made a covenant with Abram, guaranteeing him the land that would belong to his descendants. We connected Abram's promise to the promises in our own lives and the confidence that God, who started a good work in us, would surely complete it.

Unfortunately, while Abram's faith had grown stronger in the Lord, the same could not be said of his wife, Sarai. Her doubts and impatience eventually led her to sinfully take matters into her own hands. Abram then failed to do his responsibility as a husband and the head of the household. Rather than leading his wife spiritually, he took a role of passivity. He did something detestable in the eyes of the Lord. The results of Sarai's impatience and Abram's failure to lead would have long-lasting consequences for generations. 

Scripture Reading: 

Genesis 16:1-16: Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2 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. 3 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. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me." 6 "Your slave is in your hands," Abram said. "Do with her whatever you think best." Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. 7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, "Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?" "I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered. 9 Then the angel of the Lord told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her." 10 The angel added, "I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count." 11 The angel of the Lord also said to her:

"You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. 12 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."

13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." 14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

Opening Prayer: 

Father God, we come before You today with hearts full of gratitude and anticipation as we gather to explore Your Word. We thank You for the gift of scripture, which reveals Your character, promises, and plan of redemption for humanity. We acknowledge that Your Word is living and active, able to transform our lives and guide us into a deeper understanding of Your truth. As we delve into this passage of scripture, we ask for Your presence to be with us. Teach us, O Lord, the dangers of relying on our own efforts and the beauty of trusting in Your grace. Prepare our hearts to receive Your message, that it may take root within us and bear fruit in our thoughts, words, and actions. We offer this prayer in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, and Redeemer. Amen.

Introduction:

Abram and Sarai were eagerly waiting for God's promise to be fulfilled through the birth of a son. However, their impatience started to weigh them down, and they began to fear that they wouldn't be able to wait any longer. They started to doubt God's promises and eventually began to rationalize taking matters into their own hands. 

We often find ourselves doing the same. We wonder, "Could God be waiting for us to take action before He acts? Doesn't God help those who help themselves? If we do this, won't God do that? Doesn't God expect us to do our part before He fulfills His promises?" This kind of reasoning can lead us down a treacherous path, causing us to act prematurely or sinfully. Impatience can lead us to compromise, to work independently of God, and to disregard His perfect timing, will, and way. When we fail to wait upon the Lord, we risk undermining the very blessings He has in store for us. 

The Causes of Impatience (16:1-2)

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 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. - Genesis 16:1-2, ESV

We are a people who hate to wait. Our culture tells us that if we want it, we should have it, and we should have it now. We understand how difficult it can be to come to terms with unfulfilled desires, especially when those desires are good and pure. It's natural to question why God hasn't answered our prayers and why we feel that we've been denied these things. However, we must be careful not to let our unfulfilled desires lead to impatience or doubt. 

Impatience with God, if left unchecked, always leads us down paths of self-destruction. Sara's longing for a child consumed her. In the days of Abram, the ability to bear children, especially a son, was seen as a sign of God's blessing. Sarai, however, remained childless her entire life, even into her old age. Sarai knew God had promised her husband a son, but she also knew that so far, she had not been able to give a son to Abram. Sarai grew desperate, feeling she could no longer wait for God's promise to be fulfilled. Impatience took hold of her heart, driving her to devise a sinful plan to force God's hand. 

Like Sarai, when we wrestle with unmet desires, we may be tempted to question the applicability and truthfulness of God's promises in our lives. Such thoughts are always misguided because God's Word is always true. Sarai mistakenly believed that God had permanently closed her womb, and she began questioning if God's promise to Abram included her. Her disappointment and broken heart led her to express her sorrow before Abram, partially blaming God for her barrenness. Sarai could have chosen to trust God's promises over her emotions and worldly reasoning. Yet, she allowed these thoughts and feelings to grow in her mind. Her wrong thinking fueled her impatience, pushing her to take matters into her own hands.

There are many ways that Satan likes to corrupt our thoughts and feelings. He might tell us that if God were going to do it, He would have done it by now. Human nature often seeks immediate answers, quick resolutions, and instant gratification. When we want something to happen right away, we may become frustrated and lose sight of the fact that God's plans often unfold gradually and in His perfect timing. Satan might lead us into the wrong thinking of trusting our own strength, wisdom, and timing instead of trusting in God. We may think we can figure things out independently from God or know what's best for our lives. This self-reliance can hinder our ability to surrender to God's timing and submit to His will. Other times he leads us into the sin of comparison. We fall into the temptation of comparing our journey to that of others, leading to discontentment and a lack of trust in God's timing. When we see others experiencing blessings or achieving their goals, we may feel like we're falling behind or that God has forgotten about us. 

Our understanding is limited, and we often need help to see the bigger picture. We may fail to grasp the intricate details of God's plans and how they fit into His overall purpose for our lives. This limited perspective can cause us to question God's timing and lose sight of His sovereignty. In our desire for control, we may attempt to manipulate circumstances, rush ahead of God's timing, or take matters into our own hands. 

Sarai's unmet desires and wrong thinking about God led her to make a wicked suggestion to her husband, and in a moment of passivity and weakness, Abram listened to his wife's sinful request: 

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. - Genesis 16:2, ESV. 

While God's design for marriage from the creation of the world was one man and one woman united in love for life, Abram lived in a time and culture where it was not uncommon for men to have multiple wives and some concubines on the side. While the culture accepted these wicked acts, Abram knew they were sinful and not a practice he should partake in. Still, in a perverse and worldly sense, there was a logic to Sarai's suggestion. Sadly, Abram gave in to temptation.

When we succumb to worldly wisdom and turn away from God's Word, we will inevitably disregard God's leading and embrace customs and practices contrary to His will. Today there are many perversions that our culture promotes as normal and good. There is a wicked and perverse logic behind what our culture promotes. For some believers, these arguments are compelling enough to lure them away from what God's Word says. Sara's desperation drove her to suggest actions no one should ever propose. Her plan was rooted in a desire to help Abram fulfill God's promise. However, it stemmed from a worldly and carnal mindset, deviating from God's plan for covenant monogamy and marital faithfulness.

Even when the usual methods of prayer and lawful means fail to bring about the desired results, we must not give in to the temptation to take matters into our own hands. Instead, we must hold on steadfastly to God's promises. While compromising God's laws may bring temporary relief, in the end, it will always lead to bitter consequences. 

The Consequence of Impatience (16:3-6) 

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. And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 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!"  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. - Genesis 16:3-6, ESV

Sarai's intentions were noble: she desired to see God's will accomplished, the mission of salvation fulfilled, and the promised seed born. Unfortunately, the old saying is true, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. She gave her Egyptian maid, Hagar, to Abram in an attempt to force God's promise to be fulfilled. Sarai and Abram forgot that only God has the wisdom and the power to bring about His promises. We are called to be laborers in God's plan, obedient to His Word and patient in waiting for His promises to be fulfilled. When we lose our patience with God, the result is a collapse of faith. 

Abram had walked faithfully with the Lord for many years, but faced with Sara's persuasive arguments, he found himself tested. The test struck at the very core of Abram's purpose on Earth – to bear the promised seed. Tempted by the fleshly desire for a son, he questioned if Sarai might be right. He listened to worldly wisdom instead of the Word of God. The collapse of his faith and patience was imminent, and he took matters into his own hands. He went to Hagar's tent, and she conceived.

The consequences of impatience are severe: it weakens our trust in God and compels us to take matters into our own hands. We fall prey to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Our actions and words become contrary to God's will and Word. Scripture warns us that actions not done in faith are sin, and impatience leads us down that treacherous path. Sarai and Abram's impatience resulted in a series of transgressions. They engaged in adultery and polygamy. This caused tension and jealousy within the household, causing division between Hagar and Sarai and between Sarai and Abram. While our impatience may manifest differently, it always leads to sinful behavior. Worldly wisdom will teach you how to live selfishly, to justify the mistreatment of others, and to tolerate and justify sin. 

God is able to take evil things and use them for good ends, but you are not God. It is never your calling to do sinful things, even if you think the end result is worth it. Resorting to evil will only lead to destruction. 

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." - Proverbs 16:25, ESV

"Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered." - Proverbs 28:26, ESV

Instead, let us trust in God, pour out our hearts before Him, and find refuge in His strength. 

"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." - Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV

The Solution to Impatience (16:7-16) 

Hagar, having endured such mistreatment, fled from the household of Abram. But God, in His omniscience, knew precisely where she was. God confronted Hagar, asking her questions, not because He lacked knowledge but to awaken conviction in her heart. This confrontation allowed her a chance to be restored to the family of faith. 

The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 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." The angel of the Lord said to her, "Return to your mistress and submit to her." The angel of the Lord also said to her, "I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude." 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. 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."

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." Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. - Genesis 16:12-16, ESV

In the midst of Hagar's distress, God comforted her by giving her promises through His Word. These promises assured her of a special heritage for her son, Ishmael. Although Ishmael was not the promised seed, God did not forget about Hagar and Ishmael. As soon as Hagar received God's promises, her heart overflowed with worship and praise. She recognized God as the One who sees her, who had witnessed her pain and met her needs. Hagar worshipped the God who had seen her in her distress and provided for her. 

Hagar had been a servant of Abram, given to him by Pharoah during his time in Egypt. Sadly she had been greatly mistreated by her master, and worst of all he had mistreated her in the name of God. When Christians mistreat others we bring shame upon both ourselves and upon the God we claim to worship. In this moment God shows grace, mercy, and favor to Hagar the Egyptian; showing that God is better than the people who represent Him on earth. 

Hagar returned to the household of faith, fulfilling her purpose to live as a believer and bear the child God. In repentance, Abram and Sarai accepted Hagar back and obeyed God's instructions regarding the naming of the child. This is a reminder that tue repentance and obedience require us to seek God's forgiveness, to do what we can to make amends for our sins, and to realign ourselves with God's will and His perfect timing. In this way patience, faith, and obedience go hand in hand.

Works or Faith (Galatians 4:21-31)

As we draw our sermon to a close, I want to take us to the New Testament, where the Apostle Paul used this account to illustrate the difference between works and faith: 

Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abram had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more  than those of the one who has a husband." Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman." So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.  - Galatians 4:21-31, ESV

Ishmael was born through human effort and the worldly reasoning of Abram and Sarah. Isaac, as we will see in the coming weeks, was born miraculously by the working of God through His promise. Legalism relies on human effort and works, while faith relies on God's promises and His grace. 

Paul used this story to illustrate the difference between the old covenant of works and the new covenant of grace. In Paul’s analogy, Hagar represents the old covenant of works, which enslaves people in their attempts to earn God's favor through their own works and efforts. We feel that we must earn God’s love and make his promises come true. Sarah and Isaac, on the other hand, represent the new covenant of grace, where salvation is received through faith and trust in God's promises and His grace. They are reminders that our promised salvation does not depend on our ability but in the ability of God, who never breaks a promise. Salvation, like the promised child, can only come through faith. 

Just as the Galatians of Paul’s day were tempted to place themselves under the burden of the law, we too can be deceived into believing that our own efforts and good works can save us. But the truth is that our salvation is not achieved by our works, but by faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Son of God, came to fulfill the law perfectly on our behalf. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose again, conquering sin and death. By His sacrifice, He offers us forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and eternal life. It is through faith in Jesus Christ alone that we can be set free from the bondage of sin and find the fulfillment of our promised salvation.

Prayer of Decision: 

Father God, as we come to the end of our time together, we bow before You in awe and gratitude. We thank You for the insights You have revealed through Your Word today, as we have journeyed through the passages of Genesis 16 and Galatians 4. Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, and we are grateful for the guidance it provides.

Lord, we recognize that the stories of Hagar, Ishmael, Sarah, and Isaac are not merely historical accounts but are also reminders of the ways we seek to control and manipulate our circumstances instead of relying on Your perfect plan and timing. May we learn from their examples and seek to surrender our lives completely into Your hands. Help us to recognize any areas of legalism, self-reliance, or works-based righteousness that have crept into our lives. Grant us the humility to acknowledge our need for Your grace and to walk in the freedom that comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Lord, we pray for those who may be feeling burdened, discouraged, or trapped by their own striving. May they find comfort and hope in Your unfailing love and freedom in Christ. May Your Holy Spirit continue to work in their hearts, leading them to experience the fullness of life that comes from surrendering to Your plan.

May Your presence go with us as we go forth from this place. Strengthen, guide, and remind us of the truths we have learned today. Empower us to be faithful ambassadors of Your love and grace in every aspect of our lives. In the name of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, we pray. Amen.