GENESIS 21:1-21 - HAGAR - THE MOTHER OF TEARS

INTRODUCTION:

Hagar the mother of tears or the bondage of the flesh. Hagar is an Egyptian name with the root word meaning flight. It may be from the adaptation of her circumstances understood to mean fugitive or immigrant.

The bible gives no record of the genealogy of Hagar and after chapter 21 she is not heard of again in the Scriptures other than to rehearse the meaning of her story at told in Genesis.

Legend has it that she was the daughter of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, the same who coveted Sarah in vain. Legend has it that Hagar became so attached to Sarah that she told her royal father that when Sarah returned to Abraham that she would go with her.

What cried the King "you will be no more than a handmaid to her." To which Hagar answered, "better to be a handmaid in the tents of Abraham than a princess in this palace." This was meant to prove the testimony of both Abraham and Sarah to those around them concerning the only true and living God and so Hagar became a convert to worship the true God.

While we can't verify this story we know she was an Egyptian slave girl, the mother of the Ishmaelites from which came the Arab people, and Mohammed, the founder of Islam.

So we see the mother of tears. Not only the tears for her own family but the mother of tears throughout every generation even unto our very day where we weep over our sons and daughters who are fighting Ishmael in Iraq and around the world today.

I - VOICE OF COVENANT AND THE TEARS OF FAITH

Genesis 15:1-21 - Abrahamic Covenant

Gen 15:3  And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Gen 14:14 - Slaves born in the house of Abraham

Gen 15:8  And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

Gen 15:9-18 - The Covenant from the Lord - deep sleep upon Abraham

II - VOICE OF DOUBT AND THE TEARS OF THE FLESH

Genesis 16:1-16 - Hagar and Ishmael

16:1-2 - THE EMPTY VOICE OF DOUBT

A - Sarai (Princess) finds herself barren and with hope of having a child running out.

B - Hagar ( flight, fugitive, immigrant) finds herself a slave to doubt and flesh.

C - Sarai blamed her barrenness on the Lord and wants to build her house upon Hagar the slave.

D - Abram listened and obeyed the voice of Sarai.

16:3-4 - THE EMPTY ACT OF DOUBT

A - Sarai took Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife.

B - Abram went in unto Hagar and she conceived.

C - Hagar now was jealous of Sarai and Sarai was not jealous of Hagar.

16:5-6 - THE EMPTY ACCUSATIONS OF DOUBT

A - Sarai now blames Abram and said the Lord judge Abram because Hagar conceived.

B - Abram told Sarai that it was her slave and she can do with her as she pleases.

C - Sarai gets rough with Hagar and Hagar runs away.

16:7-11 - THE VOICE OF GRACE & TEARS OF REPENTANCE

16:7-8 - GRACE RUNS AFTER THOSE IN FLIGHT

A - Angel of the Lord finds Hagar by a fountain of water.

B - Angel addresses her by name, as Sarai's maid, and asks her where she is going.

C - Hagar answers I am fleeing the face of my mistress Sarai - (load of the flesh is to heavy)

16:9-11 - GRACE TURNS HURT INTO PROMISE

A - Angel said return and submit under her hands

B - Angel said I will multiply your seed that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

C - Angel named the child Ishmael(God shall hear)

D - Because the Lord has heard your affliction.

16:12 - GRACE GIVES SPACE IN TIME OF JUDGMENT

A - He will be a wild man

B - His and will be against every man

C - Every man's hand will be against him

D - He will dwell in the presence of his brethren

16:13-16 - GRACE SHOWS GOD TO THE SLAVES OF SIN

A - Hagar testified that God saw her and she saw God

B - Hagar bare Abram a son and Abram named him Ishmael

C - Abram was 86 years old (still 14 years away from the promise of God)

CONCLUSION:

When in trouble the mother receives her child without asking any questions. It is enough for her to know her child is in distress. She may guess much, fear more, but comfort is her first consideration, and explanation can wait.

God like a mother does not probe the wound when there is power to heal. He asks no questions, utters no reproach, demands no explanation.

Thank God, he asks not questions and strikes no wounds. We carry to him our torturing doubts, worldly loss, stab of heart, deep gashes of disappointment, ruin of sin within the soul, and he comforts us with his forgiving presence. What we weep over may remain but without saying one word, God can let us know everything will be alright. Without saying one word God can turn our loss into gain and let everything out to the good for those that love the Lord. (Dr. Herbert Lockyer - All the women of the Bible - P303)