Genesis 16:1

Genesis 16:1 says, Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.  Even though God had promised Abram that he would be the father of a great nation, Sarai and Abram still had no children.  Sarai thought she had a solution involving her Egyptian handmaiden.  We should never get impatient with God and attempt to carry out His will with our own plans, but should always wait for God to do things His way.  Verse two states, And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.  Sarah in effect said God had failed, but she had a plan.  Abram could have a child with the handmaiden, and Sarai could claim the child as hers.  There was no consideration for the handmaiden.  Abram did as Sarai asked him to, and at no point do we see them asking God about the plan.  This should have been at least Abram's first response.  We must make sure that what we are doing is God's plan, no matter how close we may feel that we are to God.  Verse three declares, And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.  After ten years in Canaan, Sarai gave the Egyptian handmaiden, Hagar, to Abram to be his wife.  Of course, God never intended for marriage to be between more than one man and one woman for a lifetime.  Verse four adds, And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.  After Abram and Hagar were together as man and wife, she became pregnant and then despised Sarai.  Hagar never had a voice in all of this, so it is no wonder that she despised Sarai.  If we use others to attempt to bring about God's will, we should not be surprised if they despise us.  Verse five says, And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.  Now Sarai was blaming Abram for Hagar's attitude, though she was the one who devised the plan.  We cannot blame others if our plans fail when we implement them without consulting God.  Sarai told Abram to choose between Hagar and her.  Verse six states, 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.  Abram did not call Hagar his wife, but called her Sarai's maid, and then told Sarai to do what she wanted to with Hagar.  We are then told that Sarai dealt hardly with her, and Hagar fled from her.  We cannot punish others if they carry out our plans and the plan fails.  Abram and Sarai were the ones to blame, not Hagar.