“But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.”
In this verse, we see a significant event in the life of Abram (later known as Abraham) and his wife Sarai (later known as Sarah). To understand the context and significance of this verse, let’s explore the preceding events.
At this point in the biblical narrative, Abram and Sarai had been married for a while, but they were still childless. God had promised Abram that he would have descendants who would become a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3), but Sarai was barren, and they had no children together.
Feeling a sense of desperation and doubt, Sarai proposed a plan to Abram. She suggested that Abram should have a child with her Egyptian maid, Hagar, and that the child would then be considered Sarai’s own. In this way, Sarai hoped to build a family through Hagar, as was the custom of the time.
Abram, though initially hesitant, eventually agreed to Sarai’s plan. He took Hagar as his wife, and she became pregnant. However, the situation quickly became tense as jealousy and strife arose between Sarai and Hagar.
Genesis 16:6:captures a moment of conflict between Sarai and Hagar. Sarai, in her frustration and disappointment, treated Hagar harshly. Abram, seemingly indifferent or unwilling to intervene, told Sarai to do as she pleased with Hagar. Sarai’s treatment became so severe that Hagar eventually fled from her presence.
This verse highlights several important themes and lessons:
- Human weakness and flawed decision-making:Abram and Sarai’s decision to take matters into their own hands instead of trusting in God’s promise led to a complicated and painful situation. It serves as a reminder of the consequences that can arise when we act out of impatience and try to fulfill God’s promises in our own ways.
- The destructive power of jealousy and mistreatment:Sarai’s jealousy towards Hagar led her to mistreat her maid, causing Hagar great distress. This illustrates the destructive nature of jealousy and the importance of treating others with kindness and compassion.
- God’s care for the oppressed:When Hagar fled from Sarai, she found herself alone in the wilderness. However, God did not abandon her. He appeared to her, comforted her, and made promises regarding her future and the future of her son (Genesis 16:7-16). This demonstrates God’s compassion and concern for the vulnerable, assuring us that He sees our suffering and provides for us even in difficult circumstances.
Ultimately, the events described in Genesis 16:6 serve as a reminder of the consequences of human choices and the faithfulness of God. Despite the mistakes made by Abram and Sarai, God remained faithful to His promise and continued to work through their lives to bring about His plan for the redemption of humanity.
