“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. 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 16:6-7).
As we read Genesis 16, we find much tension within Abram’s household. From all indications, Sarai must have regretted giving Hagar to Abram “to wife.” She was miserable and went to Abram with her complaint. She may have wanted him to be the one to deal with the matter. However, Abram told her she should deal with Hagar, her handmaid. Sarai “dealt hardly with her.” Hagar, who had been basking in the glow of carrying Abram’s child, would be brought down from her lofty attitude. When her pride and physical being could no longer bear the harsh treatment, she fled. However, she forgot she had a duty to serve her mistress as a bondwoman. She might have thought she could flee back to Egypt, but she would have to return to Sarai.
How many times when we have strayed away from God did we think we could really get away with it? If the Lord is the master of our lives, be thankful He is watching out for us that we don’t veer too far away.
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Christmas outreaches in FWB church plants across the globe this season.
