Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 16
Overview:
Sarai gives
Hagar to
Abram.
(1-3) Hagar's misbehaviour to
Sarai.
(4-6) The
Angel commands
Hagar to return, The promise to
her,
Birth of
Ishmael.
(7-16)
1-3 Sarai,
No longer expecting to have children herself,
proposed to
Abram to take another
Wife, whose children she
might; her
Slave, whose children would be her property. This was
done without asking counsel of the
Lord. Unbelief worked,
God's
almighty power was forgotten. It was a bad
Example, and a source
of manifold uneasiness. In every relation and situation in
Life
there is some
Cross for us to
Bear: much of the
Exercise of
Faith consists in patiently submitting, in waiting the
Lord's
time, and using only those means which he appoints for the
removal of the
Cross. Foul temptations may have very fair
pretences, and be coloured with that which is very plausible.
Fleshly
Wisdom puts us out of
God's way. This would not be the
case, if we would ask counsel of
God By his
Word and
By Prayer,
before we attempt that which is doubtful.
4-6 Abram's unhappy
Marriage to
Hagar very soon made a great
Deal of mischief. We may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief
that follow us, when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in
this case. Passionate people often quarrel with others, for
things of which they themselves must
Bear the blame.
Sarai had
given her maid to
Abram, yet she cries out, My wrong be upon
thee. That is never said wisely, which pride and
Anger Put into
our mouths. Those are not always in the right, who are most loud
and forward in appealing to
God: such rash and bold imprecations
commonly speak guilt and a bad cause.
Hagar forgot that she
herself had first given the provocation,
By despising her
mistress. Those that suffer for their faults, ought to
Bear it
patiently, 1Pe 2:20.
7-16 Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her
duty, and going further astray, when the
Angel found her. It is
a great
Mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either
By
Conscience or
By Providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that
thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest
with in
Abram's
Tent. It is good to live in a religious family,
which those ought to consider who have this advantage. Whither
wilt thou go? Thou art running into
Sin; if
Hagar return to
Egypt, she will return to
Idol gods, and into danger in the
Wilderness through which she must travel. Recollecting who we
are, would often teach us our duty. Inquiring whence we came,
would show us our
Sin and folly. Considering whither we shall
go, discovers our danger and misery. And those who leave their
space and duty, must hasten their return, how mortifying soever
it be. The declaration of the
Angel, "I will," shows this
Angel
was the eternal
Word and
Son of God.
Hagar could not but admire
the
Lord's
Mercy, and feel, Have I, who am
So unworthy, been
favoured with a gracious visit from the
Lord? She was brought to
a better temper, returned, and
By her behaviour softened
Sarai,
and received more gentle treatment. Would that we were always
suitably impressed with this thought, Thou
God seest me!