When Faith Grows Impatient
Genesis 16:1–4 (NASB95)
1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. 4He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight.
Sarai faced the pain of barrenness in a world where a woman's worth and security depended on children. Ten years had passed since God promised Abram descendants. Sarai saw no sign of fulfillment. She decided to act. Following the customs of her day, she offered her Egyptian servant Hagar to Abram as a surrogate. The hope was that Hagar would bear a child and Sarai would be "built up,” a phrase that plays on the Hebrew word for "son" and reveals her longing for both a child and a future for her family.
This arrangement was common in the ancient Near East. Law codes such as Hammurabi’s and the Nuzi documents allowed a barren wife to provide a servant as a concubine. Any child born would legally belong to the wife. Sarai and Abram acted within their culture's norms. But here is the lesson: what is accepted in the culture we live in is not always in line with what God’s plan. Their decision to use Hagar as a surrogate was an attempt to help God keep His promise, but it was not the way God intended.
Hagar conceived, and the household changed. Hagar began to look down on Sarai. The text says Sarai "lost caste in her eyes." The power dynamic shifted. Sarai's plan caused tension, jealousy, and pain. The story reflects other biblical accounts where human efforts to fulfill God's promises lead to rivalry and strife. This is a recurring theme in the patriarchal family’s story. Jacob and his mother made their own plan that created conflict with Esau. Racheal and Leah have a family feud after marrying Jacob.
The Abram/Sarai/Hagar narrative leaves the reader in suspense: Would this child be the heir God promised, or would God's plan unfold another way?
As we will see, the pain and harm caused to Hagar and Ishmael will increase. The lesson we begin to learn is clear: Even when our solutions seem reasonable or are supported by culture, they can lead us away from God's best. Sarai and Abram's impatience brought conflict and sorrow. God had promised an heir, but the promise would not come through human manipulation. It would come by God's power and timing.
We face the same temptation. We want to see God's promises fulfilled, and we are often tempted to take matters into our own hands. We may use methods that seem wise or are accepted by our culture, but they may not align with God's will. This story calls us to patient faith. We must trust God's timing and resist the urge to force His hand. We must also remember to value people as image-bearers, not as tools for our plans. When we wait on God, He will accomplish what He has promised in His time.