Genesis16

They sure did have some strange customs in those days. But have
you noticed, God or the LORD seemed to approve of the actions of
these "Men of God" so far? It seems to me the purest of the pure
had a few blemishes. I suggest anyone reading this to find a Bible
and keep check behind me. I am taking this information from the
Bible, why not double check if you find it hard to believe?


[1] 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.
[Now I ask you, what woman in her right mind would do such a
thing? In our society (such as it is), what wife do you know who
would ask her husband to do anything like this? As with regard
to our society (churches included), these actions are totally
unacceptable. Should it take place in the church, a member could
be turned away. In a community, the would be called all sorts of
names, shunned, maybe attacked and sued – their name would
be ruined.]

And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
[Too, Abram was suppose to be a man of God, but this seemed to
be okay with him. Let’s see what happens next.]

[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.
[Uh huh, still with me folks? This is a man of God, one the Lord
does seem to be well pleased with. Now, I wonder just how many
preachers have really paid any attention to this. How many
churches have thrown out church members for the act of sleeping
with someone they are not married too? But, as you can see, it
happened here.]

[4] And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she
saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
[Now we are getting into some deep stuff. Okay, let me see if I can
follow this. Sarai gave Hagar (her servent) to Abram (Sarai’s
husband), then Sarai became "Angry" with Hagar. Now I ask you,
does that sound fair to Hagar, since she was just a servent and likely
had no choice in the matter? It’s the old damned if you do, damned
if you don’t situation.]

[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.
[It would seems to me, that Hagar deserves an apology.]

[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.
[Now, you see folks, things like this just do not
seem right. The thought that comes to my mind is, a parent telling
a child to do something, then punishing the child for doing it. Well,
that’s about what this amounts too.]

[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.
[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.
[Who wouldn’t?]

[9] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy
mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
[So, the angel sends her back to take a punishment she shouldn’t
have. But then, I’m sure there are a lot of innocent people in prison
in our own society today.]

[10] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy
seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
[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.
[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.
[That should help a mother sleep well.]

[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?
[At least someone is thinking.]

[14] Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is
between Kadesh and Bered.
[15] And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's
name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
[16] And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar
bare Ishmael to Abram.