A failure of faith - Genesis 16
This is a sermon by Reuben Jackman from the Riverside Church service on 1st February 2026.
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Introduction
If any one has been involved in a building project you will be well aware of the number of set backs or changes in plan when trying to execute a project. And its commonly said that when it comes to a building project you can pick only 2 of the following options, Fast, Cheap or Good quality. Good work isn’t cheap, cheap work isn’t good, and fast work isn’t either. When we did our house extension we had a delay due to issues with the foundation. And due to the clay soil before any building could be done a raft had to be built. This made the project longer and more expensive, so it was pretty tempting to try and find a way for it to be done faster and cheaper, however the reality of taking a shortcut and skipping building a raft is that our house over the years would sink into the mud and lead to even more problems. There are many examples that you can problem think of or recall in your own life where, what was thought to be a short cut, leads to more delay and more problems. Well in Genesis 16 we see how in their witing Abram and Sarai grow impatient, and in their sin try to take matters into their own hands. It had been 11 years since God had promised children to Abram and Sarai, but human impatience leads to harmful shortcuts.
I. Human Impatience Leads to Harmful Shortcuts
Genesis 16:1–4
As we begin in Genesis 16, the chapter opens with a painful reality for Abram and Sarai. Verse one says, “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children.” It may seem Gods promise to them of a great nation had not been fulfilled. And in the times of Abram and Sarai, Sarai being barren carried tremendous weight. Barrenness was not only a private grief—it was a public shame. A woman’s value was often tied to her ability to bear children. Sarai likely lived with constant disappointment, cultural pressure, and unanswered questions about God’s promises.
We have seen the promises made so far in our series. God had promised Abram descendants as numerous as the stars. Last week we saw God had reaffirmed His covenant. But years had passed. Abram and Sarai were older. And the promise still seemed unfulfilled. We can understand the unrest of both Abram and Sarai in this situation. I am sure many of us can empathise with Abram and Sarai in the waiting, there are many things that don’t always make sense to us and we have to wait for, the job opportunity that seems to never arrive, the family member to come to the Lord, sickness to be healed, that relationship that you long for, or a child you don’t yet have. All these situations are hard, very hard, and in repeated trails and as time passes the waiting has a way of magnifying our doubts.
Look with me at verse two as Sarai takes it upon herself and comes up with a plan. She says to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” To us this may seem very extreme and rather shocking, but this was not an unusual practice in that culture. It was socially acceptable. It was legally permitted. It was culturally normal. However, the big problem was that it was spiritually misguided, rather than trusting Gods promise Sarai takes it into her own hands. Sarai is no longer asking, “What is God doing?” She is asking, “What can we do to make this happen?”
That is always the danger of impatience. Impatience rarely looks rebellious. It usually looks reasonable. It looks practical. It looks efficient. But it quietly replaces trust in God with confidence and trust in ourselves. So in Sarais sin she trusts in herself rather than in God. So how does Abram, the man who is to lead his wife, respond, he listens and agrees to what Sarai proposes. There is no prayer recorded. There is no conversation with God. There is no reminder of the promise God had already made. Abram, the man who once trusted God enough to leave his homeland, now passively agrees. Faith often erodes not through open rebellion, but through quiet neglect.
Verse four says that Hagar conceives. And immediately, the situation begins to unravel. When Hagar realizes she is pregnant, she looks on Sarai with contempt. What was meant to solve a problem now creates a deeper problem. Abram and Sarai tried to take shortcuts becoming inpatient in the waiting, but all these shortcuts have achieved is further issues. It may appear successful at first, after all Hagar conceives, but the sinful, self-reliant actions of people always carry consequences.
So as we look at Genesis 16 this morning, the passage forces us to ask some hard questions. Where are we tempted to rush God’s timing? Where do we justify questionable choices because they seem logical? Where have we trusted our strategies more than God’s promises?
God’s promises do not need sinful, manipulative, or self-reliant strategies to come true.
Well lets explore in more detail as we go onto our second point how impatient unfaithfulness leads to mess and hurt
II. Impatient unfaithfulness leads to mess and hurt (Genesis 16:4-6)
As soon as Hagar becomes pregnant, the power dynamics in the household begin to shift. Hagar is still a servant, but now she carries Abram’s child, and remember for Sarai this is something she has longed for, for a long time and has caused her much pain. But, for Hagar her status rises, and her pride replaces humility, which is seen in verse 4 as Hagar began to despise Sarai.
Sarai, feeling humiliated and threatened by Hagar, responds with anger. Verse five says Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.” So in her anger Sarai blames Abram.
Again Abram responds in a way that deflects responsibility and puts it back onto Sarai. And once again, no one protects Hagar. Abram, the one with the greatest authority in the household, refuses to intervene to take any responsibility for the consequences of their sin and he allows Sarai’s anger to fall on the most vulnerable person in the situation, Hagar.
We are only 16 chapters into the start of the bible and this is a pattern that we have already seen repeated. The pattern of sin and deflection of responsibility. First it was Adam and Eve, when Eve is tempted by the serpent, Adam remains silent and not only that but passes blame onto Eve. The consequence of which was massive, the fall. Then Abram and Sarai well they fall into the same pattern and again the consequence is huge. It can be easy to think when reading these stories and think that we are somehow different, that we wouldn’t be so silent, or we wouldn’t be so foolish. Well the pattern of the sinful flesh, that we see so often is to shift blame, avoid cost, and let the consequences fall on others while we tell ourselves we would have done better.
The result is devastating. A shortcut rooted in not trusting in Gods promise, has only led to more sin and mess. Sin in Hagar’s life means she despises Sarai, Sin in Sarais life means she blames Abram and pours out her bitterness by mistreating Hagar. And Sin in Abrams life means he fails to lead well again, abdicating his responsibility. I wonder if as I read any of those messy sinful responses out, you too can recognise situations in your life where you too have responded in such ways. Sin in ‘christ church riverside members’ life means they despise someone, Sin in ‘church riverside members’ life means they blame someone and pours out their bitterness by mistreating others. Or sin in ‘christ church riverside members life’ means they fails to lead well, abdicating their responsibility.
Following harsh treatment from Sarai we see at the end of verse 6 that Hagar fled.
This pattern is painfully familiar isn’t it? When people misuse power, suffering is almost always pushed downward. Leaders blame others. Those with authority protect themselves. And the weakest bear the consequences.
Brothers and Sisters, ‘Do we take responsibility for our actions? Or do we shift blame when things go wrong? Are there people who are suffering because we have refused to own our failures? Or you may be on the receiving end of such actions, ‘Are you suffering because of the actions of others? Are you feeling blamed for the mess of other peoples situations? I guess the reality is, we can probably answer each of those questions with a yes at some point in our lives. But I suppose the real question that applies to us all, In all situations are you trusting in the promises and sovereignty of God, or do you try to take matters into your own hands and trust in your own strength?
Now at this point it all seems pretty bleak and pretty desperate and the reality of it, is that it is. In a world where God is rejected and we trust in ourselves, or other alternatives that offer shortcuts to what we desire, the outcome is always desperate. You don’t have to look far to see these desperate situations in this broken world that we live in. The truth of it is, ‘when people turn away from trusting God and instead put their own plans into action, they will either fail miserably or succeed miserably’. But you will be pleased that the passage does not end in verse 6. The story takes a beautiful and unexpected turn. God in his faithfulness, sees the afflicted and pursues them.
III. God in his faithfulness, sees the afflicted and Pursues Them
Hagar is alone. She is pregnant. She is homeless. She is running into the wilderness. By every human standard, she is invisible…But she is not invisible to God.
Verse seven says, “The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur.” Notice the language here and who is doing the work. ‘the angel of the Lord finds Hagar’. God finds Hagar. She does not cry out. She does not pray. She simply runs. And God pursues her. You can imagine how Hagar feels at this point, she is in a situation beyond her control, she has been harshly treated and is having to run away, alone and scared and in that moment, God comes to her.
This is the first appearance of the Angel of the LORD in Scripture—a divine messenger who speaks with God’s authority and reveals God’s presence. Some commentaries suggest that this is the first time we see the son of God appearing in human history.
And then something perhaps even more astonishing happens. God calls her by name.
“Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” This Slave, who has been treated as property, is addressed as a person. God knows her name. God knows her story. God asks questions not to gain information, but to invite relationship.
Like Hagar, you may be sat her this morning as someone who feels invisible to the world, someone who has been mistreated and left alone. But like Hagar, God knows your name, he knows your story, and he wants to have a relationship with you. And we are in a far better position than Hagar, God loves us so much that he sent Jesus, his only son, so that all there is left for us to have a relationship with him, is to say yes lord I trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins. Is that not beautiful?
Now I don’t know how you always treat the ones you love, but we can recognise those parents can’t we that are so fearful about their children not being happy or having a hard time, that they protect them from everything and give them whatever they want. But that is not how God treats Hagar in this passage. God then gives Hagar a hard command. In verse 9 He tells her to return and submit. To return to the situation that in her own strength felt impossible to remain in. But He also gives her a promise. He promises that her offspring will be multiplied beyond number.
Then read with me verse 11 ‘11 The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.’ God names her child, Ismael. Ishmael meaning, “God hears.” In this moment, Hagar realizes something profound. The God she thought had forgotten her had been listening all along.
However, verse 12 then may come as a bit of a surprise with a bit of a shift in tone, He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” The life of Hagar’s son would not be easy and would bring much affliction. And the consequence of Abram, Sarai and Hagar’s sin continues to be present through the life of Ishmael, the situation is bad, but God in his grace would still look over him and sustain him.
And in verse thirteen, Hagar gives God a name. Look down at your bibles with me ‘13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” In Hebrew the name Hager gives to God is El Roi which as we can see is translated into ‘the God who sees’. This is the only time in Scripture where a person gives God a name. A foreign servant woman, mistreated and forgotten by others, is invited into a relationship with him and becomes the first person to name God.
This passage offers deep comfort. For those who feel unseen. For those mistreated by the decisions of others. For those wandering through difficult seasons that they did not choose.
God is not distant. God sees. God hears. God pursues.
But it also offers comfort for those experiencing the guilt of past sins. Despite Hagars sin and the consequences that were to follow, God still cares for her and for Ishmael. Even in the middle of the consequences and mess of our sin, God still loves you and the blood of Jesus is enough to take away our shame and guilt.
Finally, Gods promises continue despite human failure.
IV. God’s Promises Continue Despite Human Failure
Genesis 16:15–16
With all the mess and chaos that we have seen so far in this chapter, rather remarkably the chapter ends quietly. Look with me at Verse 15 ‘15 So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.’
So the first thing to take away from this verse is that, Hagar did return with a submitted heart. She told the whole story to Abram and Sarai, and Abram named the child Ishmael, just as instructed in the meeting with the Angel of the Lord that Hagar described.
Hagar thought her circumstances needed transformation, so she fled from them. But in fact, it was not the circumstances that needed change it was Hagar that needed transformation. Often when trying to flee from or change our circumstance you hear the phrase ‘we will jump from the frying pan into the fire.’ And we have seen all through Genesis 16 that human shortcuts trying to change their circumstance do lead to more mess and I suppose is therefore jumping from the frying pan into the fire. But, that is not how God works. As children of God we must be triumphant exactly where we are. It is not a change of climate we need, but a change of heart. The flesh wants to run away, but God wants to demonstrate His power exactly through us. I am not saying that it is wrong to change circumstances or leave harmful situations, but what is clear through this passage is ‘who are you depending on’? Are we depending on ourselves to try and find shortcuts to the things we desire, or are we trusting that God is enough and that he will keep his promises.
Well Ishmael is born but this does not replace Isaac. God’s covenant will still come through Sarah, as he promised. But Ishmael is not forgotten. God’s redemptive plan is not derailed by human mistakes. Yet our sinful actions do carry consequences, they did for Sarai, Abram and Hagar, consequences that we even we continue to feel today through the line of Ishmael. And there are also consequences to the sins you and I commit, you may be able to think of some now, break down in relationships, loss of possessions, loss of trust, consequences at work. But in all these situations, the God who sees, does not forget you. His plan and promise of salvation is not derailed by our human mistakes.
Close
Genesis 16 reminds us that human impatience often leads us to take shortcuts with harmful consequences. But the wonderful truth is despite our sinful mistakes, God’s purposes are never derailed by our failures. Abram and Sarai tried to force God’s promise, and the result was pain, conflict, and lasting consequences. Yet in the middle of their mess, they learnt more about the wonderful character of God. Knowing him as the God who sees. He saw Hagar in her affliction, He heard her misery, and He remained faithful to His promises.
For us, the question is not whether waiting will be hard, but whether we will trust God in the waiting or rely on ourselves. I know some of you are here this morning, right in the middle of waiting and may be finding it unbearable. But God sees you, he will sustain you and look after you.
Others may be feeling trapped by guilt because of the consequences of sin. But God still cares and He is greater than the consequences of sin.
Or you may be sat here this morning as someone who is still chasing human shortcuts and relying on your own strength. The consequences of human shortcuts are bleak and always lead to destruction. Put your trust in God, the one who sent his son Jesus so that all you have to do is trust in him.
Wherever you are this morning, the answer is not to try harder or move faster, but to trust deeper. The God who sees us is the God who sent His Son to bear our sin, our failure, and our impatience. And because of Jesus, we are not alone, but we are invited into a relationship with him.
Prayer
Father God,
We thank You that You are the God who sees us and hears our cries.
Forgive us for the times we have grown impatient and trusted in our own strength instead of Your promises.
Help us to wait faithfully, to trust You deeply, and to walk in obedience even when the path is hard. But Lord, we thank you that you are sovereign and in control, that our actions cannot derail your plan for redemption. Thank You that through Jesus our sins are forgiven.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Intro: Shortcuts and Consequences
Building Projects – Fast, Cheap, Good quality?
1) Human Impatience Leads to Harmful Shortcuts (vv. 1–4)
- God had promised Abram and Sarai descendants, yet 11 years had passed.
- Sarai proposes a culturally acceptable but spiritually misguided solution.
- Abram passively agrees—no prayer, no seeking God, no resistance.
- Impatience often looks reasonable, but it quietly replaces faith with self-reliance.
- God’s promises do not need sinful shortcuts to be fulfilled.
2) Impatient Unfaithfulness Creates Mess and Hurt (vv. 4–6)
- Hagar conceives, and relationships immediately fracture.
- Pride, blame-shifting, and abuse of power follow.
- Abram fails to lead; Sarai lashes out; Hagar suffers.
- Sin spreads outward
3) God Faithfully Sees and Pursues the Afflicted (vv. 7–14)
- Hagar flees into the wilderness—alone, pregnant, and unseen by others.
- God finds her. He knows her name and her story.
- God gives both a hard command and a gracious promise.
- Hagar names God El Roi — “The God who sees me.”
- God sees the forgotten, hears the afflicted, and pursues the hurting.
4) God’s Promises Continue Despite Human Failure (vv. 15–16)
- Ishmael is born, but God’s covenant promise through Sarah still stands.
- Human failure brings real consequences, but God’s redemptive plan is not derailed.
- True transformation is not found in escaping circumstances, but in trusting God within them.
| Questions to think more about:
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| My own questions for later:
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