WEEKLY BIBLE COMMENTARY by Wes Woodard 12-3

Genesis 16 – “The Birth of Ishmael”

Since she could not get pregnant by Abram, Saarai came up with an alternate plan. She decides to give her Egyptian maid, Hagar, to Abram and try to have an heir through her.  But when Hagar has Ishmael she looked with contempt on Sarai! Abram allows Hagar and her new son to be kicked out of the household!  But God sees her plight and rescues them. He then promises to bless them.  God tells Hagar that Ishmael will be “a wild donkey of a man” (NASV) and “his hand will be against everyone.”  This boy was half Jew and half Egyptian. Most conservative theologians believe he is the father of the Arab nations. It is easy to see their wildness today: Muslims killing Muslims! Why? Because one group considers the other to be infidels.