An Outline of Genesis 16

I. Abraham’s past testing and faithfulness was recalled.

A. His faith had to overcome the ties of nature. God called him to leave his country and people.

B. His faith was tried by the stress of circumstances - the famine in the land.

C. He overcame the trial with his brother Lot.

- Abraham had to be courageous in telling Lot to leave and take the land he wanted.

- His love for Lot was tested.

D. Abraham was tested by the King of Sodom when he offered to reward him for overcoming Chedorlaomer.

II. Abram’s wife, Sarai, asked Abraham to conceive a child with her handmaiden, Hagar. Abraham had been tested on many points and this was another test for him. He had to decide if this was God’s will and how long he could wait before disbelieving God’s promise to give him a son.

A. God tends to bless, then test the ones that He chooses.

B. In the past, Abraham had passed God’s tests and made wise decisions.

III. Sarai’s request tested Abraham on different levels.

A. It tested the patience of his faith. He had been promised a son from the Lord.

B. It tested his trust in God. He was supposed to believe God would honor His promises.

IV. The place where the Angel of the Lord met Hagar was significant.

A. He met her by the well. The well symbolizes the Spirit and being spiritually quenched and satisfied.

B. The well was in the wilderness. This could symbolize the wilderness that the Israelites would wander.

V. God "opened Hagar’s eyes and she saw a well".

A. God chose her and helped her.

B. God did the same with Peter and all others - He does the choosing.

VI. The Angel of the Lord spoke to Hagar.

A. She was to remain a maid and not marry Abraham.

B. She was given specific instructions to return to her mistress and submit to her.

C. This is a prime example of repenting (returning to God) and obeying (submitting) to Him.

VII. Ishmael’s birth is announced.

A. He would be a wild man.

B. He would be against every man.

C. Every man would be against him.

D. This foreshadows the Arabic people, whom he fathered, and reveals how they would be a warlike people and not easily subdued.