Hagar's Labor And Delivery
Introduction
Usually when it comes time to preach a Mother's Day sermon, the preacher will talk (hopefully from the scripture) about The Principles Of Motherhood, or The Praise Of Motherhood, or one of The Personalities Of Motherhood. Today, it's on my heart to talk about a person in the Bible who became a mother. I want to talk about Hagar.
I read a Mother's Day Sermon from May 14, 1989 in which the preacher said...
This is a Mothers' Day sermon. I'm preaching without apology and with appreciation for that time- honored institution without the benefit of which we wouldn't be here!
Every Mother's Day sermon I've run across starts with an explanation - this one's no exception. As ministers, we're reminded not to get too sentimental about motherhood because:
(a) For some, motherhood is an accident, and not always a welcome one.
(b) For some, biological motherhood isn't possible.
(c) For some, mothers weren't all that nice.
(d) For some, motherhood under the very best of circumstances is still less than a bed of roses.
So, with all those qualifications, why bother with Mothers' Day at all? I'll tell you why - because for all its stumbling blocks, pitfalls and broken dreams, for all the soiled diapers, marked-up wallpaper and spoiled plans, we're talking about a beautiful ideal, a natural part of God's creative plan to bring love and caring to light. Motherhood is a constant opportunity for the gift of love and caring.
Somebody said: "Becoming a mother is usually not difficult; on the other hand, being a mother is often extremely difficult!" Now I understand what the person is saying, and it is evident that the reference to becoming a mother not being difficult is a reference to conception, because from what I understand, carrying a baby for nine months and then going through the process of labor and delivery can be extremely difficult as well.
In fact, Nora Ephron said, "If pregnancy were a book they would cut out the last two chapters." And all the ladies who have had children said ... (Amen).
When I was a student in Bible college, I worked as a Unit Technician and Nursing Assistant for a couple of years in (of all places) the labor and delivery ward of one of the hospitals in Greenville, South Carolina. If a birthing situation came up, I would probably still say with the woman in Gone With The Wind that "I don't know nothing about birthing babies." However, I have had a little experience in that area.
And I want to talk to you this morning about Hagar's Labor And Delivery. Now before everyone gets uncomfortable, I should explain that I want to talk about the Labor and struggle in Hagar's life, and I want to talk about how God delivered her and helped her in a time of great distress and difficulty.
As we begin...
I. Let's Notice Hagar's History
A. The Bible Mentions The History Of Hagar's Slavery
Hagar - [Hebrew, haagaar (OT:1904), flight; Septuagint, Hagar.] Her Egyptian name is not given; and this, which is purely Shemitic, was that bestowed upon her after her introduction into Abram's household probably in reference to a remarkable incident in her life.
(From Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary)
1. We See The Probable Transition In Her Slavery Experience - Genesis 12:10-20
2. We See The Possible Time Of Her Slavery Experience
(Genesis 16:3) "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."
Scofield's time references indicate that the time from Egypt to Genesis 16 is about 7 years.
3. We See The Prominent Testimony Of Her Slavery Experience
In the first six verses of Genesis 16, there is a reference in every verse to Hagar being the "handmaid" or the "maid" of Sarai. And these terms are translated from a Hebrew word (8198. shiphchah) that means "a female slave," and it indicates one who was a member of the household. In verse 8, God clearly refers to her as "Hagar, Sarai's maid."
Thirteen years later...
(Genesis 21:9-10) "And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. {10} Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac."
Here, the word "bondwoman" is a different Hebrew word (519. 'amah) that also means a female slave, but here there is no indication of the household connection.
The only New Testament references to Hagar or "Agar" highlights and even emphasizes the fact that she was a "bondwoman," again a female slave.
(Galatians 4:22-24) "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. {23} But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. {24} Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar."
B. The Bible Mentions The History Of Hagar's Situation
Ray Stedman said...
There is much in this action of Sarai's which seems deserving of praise. It was, first of all, an act of genuine and costly sacrifice. She evidently had said something like this to herself: "God has promised my husband a son, through whom he means to fulfill all his promises. Yet he has never said that the son must come through me, and perhaps he means to fulfill this promise another way." So she resolves, through what struggles we can only imagine, to give up her own rights in an act of courageous renunciation. She gives up what is a wife's most precious possession, the right to have her husband's sole affection, and she offers her maid to her husband that he might have a child by her and thus fulfill the will of God.
Abram was, as we know, a monogamist. That is not the same as monotonous! He had only one wife, and he was quite content with that arrangement. But to give him the son of his heart's desire, Sarai was willing to sacrifice that relationship. It was not only an act of real sacrifice, but also one of deep sincerity. She was not hoping that he would talk her out of this. She was quite prepared to go through with it, cost her what it may. She took the initiative in proposing it.
Furthermore, it was an acceptable act, strange as that may appear to us. There was nothing immoral about it in the eyes of the community. This was common in the life of these nomadic people. Many of the Canaanite leaders would have had more than one wife and neither Abram nor Sarai would be less highly regarded because of this act. No one would laugh at her, nor point the finger of scorn. It was a perfectly proper and seemly act in the eyes of the community.
Yet, as we see the end of this action, we are aware that it was an act of appalling folly and stupidity, resulting in endless sorrow and heartache to all concerned. The results are evident yet, 4,000 years later! The Arabian nations originated in this act, and the enmity, which sprang up between Israel and the Arabs, descendants of Ishmael, troubles the world to this day. If ever we have a picture of the longevity of sin, it is here. Despite the seeming rightness of this to Sarai, it was the worst thing she could possibly have done.
Sarah compromised God's Word, sent Abraham to Hagar who bore Ishmael and lost peace in the Middle East.
(John MacArthur)
1. There Must Have Been A Lot Of Problems And Awkwardness In This Situation
(Genesis 16:1-3) "Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. {2} 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. {3} 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 (woman)."
2. There Was Pride And Arrogance In This Situation
(Genesis 16:4-5) "And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. {5} 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."
"despised" - Hebrew 7043. qalal, a primary root word that means to be or to make light, literally small or figuratively easy, trifling (insignificant, trivial), vile - bring into contempt, to afflict.
Maybe Hagar kept thinking about how everybody had bragged about how beautiful this 65-year-old woman was.
(Genesis 12:14-15) "And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. {15} The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended (indicates that she was all the rave in Egypt) her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house."
Maybe Hagar thought to herself after she conceived, "Sarai, you may be prettier than me, but I'm going to give him something that you never could...a son."
3. There Was Passion And Anger In This Anger
The Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says that "Sarai" means "princess," but the Strong's Concordance suggests that the name means "dominative."
Illustrate: Based on the meanings of the name and some of the things that we see in her actions, maybe Sarai should be called what my brother-in-law Phillip calls my niece Olivia sometimes: "psycho princess."
(Genesis 16:5) "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."
"wrong" - Hebrew 2555. chamac, violence - cruelty.
She is saying, "I am so upset, and this whole thing is your fault!"
"My wrong be upon thee" - This appears to be intended as a reproof to Abram, containing an insinuation that it was his fault that she herself had not been a mother. (From Adam Clarke's Commentary)
Sarai complained to Abram of the contempt she received from her maid ... and called upon Jehovah to judge between her and her husband. (From Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)
Basically she said, "God's gonna get you!"
II. Let's Notice Hagar's Heartache
A. She Was Experiencing Heartache In Her Current Situation
1. Hagar's Circumstances Involved Her Disgrace - The Unkind Circumstances
(Genesis 16:6) "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."
"dealt hardly with" - Hebrew 6031. 'anah, a primary root word that has the idea of looking down or browbeating; to depress - to abase, to afflict, to chasten, to weaken.
Hagar had a bad case of pre-partum depression and it was Sarai's fault.
2. Hagar's Circumstances Involved Her Direction - The Unethical Circumstances
(Genesis 16:8) "And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai."
God doesn't ask questions in order to learn, but in order to teach. And the things that He wants to teach Hagar here is that she has gone in a wrong direction away from the place of service.
Cf. (1 Kings 19:9) "And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?"
3. Hagar's Circumstances Involved Her Destination - The Uncertain Circumstances
Genesis 16:8 - "Where have you come from, and where are you going?" (NKJV)
"Under the harsh treatment of her mistress Hagar's life became intolerable, and she fled into the wilderness, turning her steps naturally toward Egypt, her native land." (From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
B. She Was Expecting Heartache In Her Coming Son
(Genesis 16:11) "And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction."
(Genesis 16:12) "And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."
1. Hagar Was Told To Expect The Fleshly Ways Of Her Child
"he will be a wild man"
"Wild Baby" - Ishmael consistently speaks of the flesh.
(Genesis 17:18) "And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!"
(Galatians 4:23) "But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise."
2. Hagar Was Told To Expect The Fighting Ways Of Her Child
"his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him' (Isaiah 48:22) "There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked." (Isaiah 57:21) "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."
3. Hagar Was Told To Expect The Fervent Ways Of Her Child
"he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren"
Dwell in the presence of all his brethren - though the wild and lawless character of Ishmael's posterity would provoke a host of enemies against them on every side, they would successfully withstand all assaults, and remain established in their land. (From Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary)
III. Let's Notice Hagar's Helper
A. The Bible Reveals The Setting Of Her Affliction
(Genesis 16:7) "And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur."
(Genesis 16:14) "Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered."
Kadesh means "sanctuary," and Bered means "hail" like a hail storm. And somewhere between the sanctuary and the storm, between the calm and the chaos, in the ordinary course of life is where you need a well and a place of refreshing.
1. There Is A Departure In Her Experience
(Genesis 16:6) "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."
"fled" - Hebrew 1272. barach, a primary root word meaning to bolt, to flee suddenly - make haste, run away.
Hagar thought she would just run away, and go back home to momma. And sometimes that may seem like the easiest route to take. Experience has taught me that marriage takes work. Observation has taught me that motherhood takes work. It may seem easier to run, but Hagar learned that you can rely on God.
(Genesis 16:7) "And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur."
"In the way to Shur" - (Because) this was the road from Hebron to Egypt, it is probable she was now returning to her own country. (From Adam Clarke's Commentary)
2. There Is A Desert In Her Experience
(Genesis 16:7) "And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur."
"wilderness" - Hebrew 4057. midbar, means an uninhabited land, a wilderness in which is no man. (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon)
If they had been written at the time, these would have been Hagar's life verses...
(Jeremiah 9:2) "Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men."
(Proverbs 21:19) "It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman."
3. There Is A Difficulty In Her Experience
(Genesis 16:7) "And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur."
"Shur" - Hebrew 7793. Shuwr, (the same as H7791); Shur, a region of the Desert. 7791. shuwr, shoor; from H7788; a wall (as going about):--wall.
Her course indicates that she was up against a wall.
B. The Bible Reveals The Specifics Of Her Assistance
1. Her Assistance Came From The God Who Looks
This truth is seen in two of the verses in the passage...
(Genesis 16:7) "And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur."
"found" - Hebrew 4672. matsa', a primary root word that means to come forth to, i.e. to appear or exist; to find or acquire; to meet or be present - to deliver, be enough, to take hold on.
(Genesis 16:13) "And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?"
She called His name "Thou God seest me."
"God" - Hebrew 410 'el, the strong and mighty one, the powerful one, the Almighty God
"seest" - Hebrew 7210. ro'iy, sight, whether abstract as in vision or concrete as in a spectacle. She called Him "El-roi" (Elroy). Ha Ha.
2. Her Assistance Came From The God Who Leads
(Genesis 16:9) "And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands."
In His leading and directing, God said, Go back and Go bow.
This word "submit" in verse 9 is the same Hebrew term (6031 'anah) that is translated "dealt hardly with" in verse 6. God seems to suggest that Hagar humble herself rather than let somebody else humble or humiliate her.
(James 4:10) "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."
(1 Peter 5:6) "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"
3. Her Assistance Came From The God Who Listens
(Genesis 16:11) "And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael (God will hear); because the LORD hath heard thy affliction."
"heard" - Hebrew 8085. shama', a primary root word that means to hear intelligently and attentively. "affliction" - Hebrew 6040. 'oniy, depression, misery - affliction, trouble.
Do you not see her crouching at the fountain, half mad with pride and vexation, and at the same time stricken with a sullen despair? She knows not what she is to do; neither does any way of hope open before her. Alas, poor Hagar! But although there was no prayer of hers for God to hear, another voice spake in his ear. The angel who suddenly appeared to her said, "The Lord hath heard thy affliction." That is a very beautiful sentence. Thou hast not prayed: thou hast been willful, reckless, and at last despairing, and therefore thou hast not cried unto the Lord. But thy deep sorrow has cried to him.
Thou art oppressed, and the Lord has undertaken for thee. Thou art suffering heavily, and God, the All-pitiful, has heard thy affliction. Grief has an eloquent voice when mercy is the listener. Woe has a plea which goodness cannot resist. Though sorrow and woe ought to be attended with prayer, yet even when supplication is not offered, the heart of God is moved by misery itself. In Hagar's case, the Lord heard her affliction. He looked forth from his glory upon that lone Egyptian woman who was in the deepest distress in which a woman could well be placed, and he came speedily to her help. (Charles Spurgeon)
Conclusion
Here's a song that could have been Hagar's theme song...
Tears are a Language God Understands
Verse 1:
Often you wonder why tears come into your eyes
And burdens seem to be much more than you can stand
But God is standing near. He sees your falling tears
And tears are a language God understands
Verse 2:
When grief has left you low it causes tears to flow.
When things have not turned out the way that you had planned
But God won't forget you His promises are true
And tears are a language that my God understands.
Chorus:
God sees the tears of a brokenhearted soul
He sees your tears and hears them when they fall
God weeps along with man and
He takes him by the hand
Tears are a language God understands
Tears are a language that my God He understands