Hagar ... broken & alone ... or was she? Lesson 3

By Patsy Norwood © 2025  All Rights Reserved!  Any and all commercial use of this study is strictly prohibited.

Genesis 12: 4-20; 16:1-15; 21:8-21 (NKJV)

Welcome back to our study on Hagar!  Last week we had a ring side seat watching Abram and Sarai as they went through a time of spiritual testing.  It seems that their faith was at an all-time low and they were ready to implement Sarai’s plan. We’re going to pick back up with verse 4 in chapter 16 to see where Sarai’s plan leads them …

Genesis 16:4

Verse 4:  So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.

The result of Abram’s time with Hagar was that she conceived.  Hagar was with child and when she realized she was going to have Abram’s firstborn child her demeanor towards Sarai changed.  Possibly even thinking that her child would be Abram’s heir, she seemed to have forgotten that she was still Sarai’s handmaiden and slave.  She stopped treating Sarai with the proper respect due to her.  Even though Hagar couldn’t consider herself an equal to Sarai, she obviously felt her status had been elevated above what she had been and that she was no longer merely a handmaiden or slave.  She was now going to be the mother of Abram’s first-born child, and she obviously thought that granted her certain privileges and status that she had not had up to this point.

Sarai has really done it now …

She gave her handmaiden, Hagar, to her husband to bear a child for her.   (The code of Hammurbi reveals this as a common practice in the ancient Near East.)

As things stood, it was impossible for Hagar to be sent away, for the laws of that period granted certain rights to slave wives.  Sarai was stuck with the situation she had created.  Hence, the jealousies and hatreds between the two continued to grow and escalate. 

Oh but beware Hagar!  That same code of Hammurbi also said that if the handmaid later ‘ranks herself with her mistress,’ she could be sold into slavery.  ‘The concubine could be fettered and counted among the slaves.’

Hagar, now pregnant, is being forced to bear a child for Abram. She was not given a choice in the matter, but now that she is with child, things are different in her mind, and she is seemingly pushing the envelope with Sarai!  In fact, you might say that Hagar seemed to be quite pleased with herself … maybe, even a bit haughty!

Verse 5:  Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between you and me.”

Poor Abram, he has done everything that Sarai has asked him to do and now Sarai is giving him an ultimatum!

Sarai seems to actually be blaming Abram and telling him that ‘the wrong done her was his fault!’   “The wrong done her”… was Sarai referring to Hagar’s attitude and actions?  Likely!   But wait a minute!  Wasn’t this all Sarai’s idea from the start?  Sarai is not being rational or reasonable, she is full of anger and her pride is wounded.  Hagar is going to be the mother of Abram’s child, not her and that is causing all kinds of hurt.  That coupled with Hagar’s behavior towards Sarai has made a very bad idea an even worse situation!

In Sarai’s mind, the situation is unbearable, and as before, instead of taking the matter to God, she decides to take matters into her own hands … again!

Verse 6:  So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.

Abram, likely sick and tired of all the bickering, hatred and jealousies going on between the two women and feeling caught between them not knowing what to do, basically washed his hands of the situation and told Sarai, ‘She’s your maid, do what you please with her.’

According to customs of that time, it was indeed Sarai’s right to punish Hagar; Abram, likely recognizing that, turned the situation over to Sarai to handle as she saw fit.  Do you think he might have been glad to not have to mediate between Sarai and Hagar?

Sarai dealt harshly with Hagar.  We don’t know what that entailed, but the law was on Sarai’s side as Hagar, with her attitude had given Sarai the right to dismiss her, sell her into slavery or have her fettered and counted among the slaves.

We don’t know what Hagars punishment was, but she wasn’t happy about it and takes matters into her own hands and runs away.

STOP!  Have you noticed that not one of these people have talked to God about any of this?  Not Abram, not Sarai, not Hagar, not before, during or after, and now a deplorable situation has developed that no one knows what to do about and so they just react out of their emotions!

Abram walks away from the problem!

Sarai full of anger, hurt and jealousy, attempts to punish Hagar!

Hagar lets her feelings rule her heart and runs!

Can’t you just feel the tension swirling around Abram, Sarai and Hagar!!!  Whew, there’s a lot going on right now and we’re going to hit the pause button, catch our breath and catch back up with them next week.

Next week, Hagar has an encounter that changes her life, but really doesn’t make the situation any better … I’ll meet you back here next Thursday and we’ll find out what happens next.

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine

~ a place for women to gather and study God's Word ~

Sources used for this study:

Various translations of the Holy Bible

Various commentaries

Several trusted and biblically sound online sources

Dictionary of New Testament Background, Editors: Craig A Evans & Stanley E. Porter

Archaeological Study Bible

All the Women of the Bible by Edith Deen

Daughters of Eve by Lottie Beth Hobbs

Halley’s Bible Handbook by H. H. Halley