Genesis 16

Genesis 16:5 And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms. But when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me."

What a pregnant verse! (chuckle) Abram must have thought he was getting a pretty good deal. Another wife. Another woman to have sexual relations with, oh boy. But now that fantasy has turned out to have thorns.

Sarai rightly puts the blame on Abram. Even though it was Sarai's idea, Abram should have known better. He should have refused. Refusing would have shown faith in God.

Sarai should have known Hagar would cop an attitude. As the one able to bear children she now saw herself as the number one wife. Sarai did not expect this and she did not like it one bit.

Sarai thought she was doing a good thing, helping God along. Sometimes it is a good thing. God does love initiative in his people. But in this case it was wrong. It was a case of unintended consequences. Sarai is not prepared to be Abram's second wife. Verse 5 makes it clear she is not going to stand for it. She deals with it before the baby is born. She certainly fears that when the baby is born Abram will be fond of it and that will work against her. She is right as we see.

That last challenge, "May the LORD judge between you and me." would have struck Abram to the core. He takes his relationship with God very seriously. He understands that the more severe judgment would be on him. He would know this has all been wrong. And he does not like to see Sarai feeling so bad.

Abram responds by repudiation his heir (v. 6) before he is even born. He disowns the child still in the womb. Hagar flees the harsh treatment which is just what Sarai had hoped. But an angel encourages Hagar to go back.

While Abram is willing to disown the boy, Ishmael, God is not. Everyone gets a second chance. The situation is not as God had wanted, but God works with the situation that happens. We often muddle things up but God can use our muddling to bring about his glory.

Abram makes it clear that Sarai is still wife number one even if she is barren. In that Abram still has faith that God will bring an heir through Sarai. Also God is pleased that Abram clings to the wife of his youth. Abram is not fickle enough to change her out for a younger model.

Perhaps an analogy can be made between this story and our empty apartments. We keep waiting for appropriate renters. A lot of people call to look. Some come by and even a few seem ready to move in. But nothing ever seems right. My DW prays for the right renter. I have not really gotten into that spiritual side of it, that God could truly be saving the apartment for a chosen person or persons. But God does care about everything in our life, so that is really unbelief on my part. DW is right, we wait in faith for the right time and person.