God is a Covenant God

Genesis 16

May 15, 2022

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Jerry Mongello shares on Genesis 16.

Genesis 16

We will be continuing in Genesis 16, but first we will back up to verses 5 & 6 to put today’s message in context.

[Genesis 16:5-6 NKJV] 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong [be] upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me.” 6 So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid [is] in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.

Last week I made the point that Abraham failed in his God given responsibility as husband and the head of his household.

Abraham was the patriarch of his household, the high priest and the judge. His household included his wife, Hagar, hundreds male and female servants and over three hundred trained men of war born in Abraham’s house. Abraham should have mediated the issue between Sarah and Hagar, given the circumstances they were unable to solve their problem.

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[Genesis 16:7-8 NKJV] 7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”

  1. The first thing that struck me was that the text said the Angel of the LORD found Hagar. There is no indication that Hagar was seeking God or that she believed in the God of Abraham. Of course God already knew where Hagar was coming from and where she was going. 

[Proverbs 15:3 NKJV] 3 The eyes of the LORD [are] in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

  1. These two verses remind me that God calls us all to Himself and to our Lord Jesus the Christ. I don’t believe in, nor am I trying to promote Calvinism. I believe scripture is clear that all are called, but all do not respond to that call. 

[2Peter 3:9 NKJV] 9 The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

We use these verses in this pulpit often, they are profound. God is willing to delay His will, because He doesn’t want any to perish. It shows us that all life is important to our God!!!

[Ezekiel 33:11 NKJV] 11 “Say to them: ‘[As] I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

We are all called, God the Father draws and calls everyone to the Son of God Jesus.

[John 6:44 NKJV] 44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

[Roman 8:28-30 NKJV] 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to be] conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

For those who wonder about people who have not heard the Gospel or the promise of His coming.

[Romans 1:16-20 NKJV] 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown [it] to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible [attributes] are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

The only difference between believers and non-believers is that believers have accepted the call from the Father. Therefore, we are being conformed to the image of the Son.

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[Genesis 16:9 NKJV] 9 The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” 

I have one points concerning this verse;

  1. Verse 9 tells Hagar to return to Sarah and to submit to her. I love how consistent the Word of God is, whether in the Old testament or the New testament we find no contradictions.

[Ephesians 6:5-7 NKJV] 5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,

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[Genesis 16:10-12 NKJV 10 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” 11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her: “Behold, you [are] with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has heard your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild man; His hand [shall be] against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

  1. Consequences

We mentioned last week that Abraham’s failure to pray concerning Hagar and having the child that he thought was the child of promise with Hagar caused consequences. We already look at strife that was caused in his household. 

We will see that Abraham’s actions had and are still having consequences today!!!

Another consequence is Abraham’s son Ishmael and his descendants became an enemy to the descendants of Isaac and Israel. This shows us just because we have free will, doesn’t mean we should act on it. 

12 He shall be a wild man; His hand [shall be] against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

God promised Hagar that Ishmael, as a son of Abraham, would become a great nation (Genesis 21:17–18). The fulfillment is recorded in Genesis 25:12–18—Ishmael had twelve sons who became great rulers and eventually a nation of people. That came about in this way: Hagar, who was Egyptian herself, found a wife from Egypt for her son, and Ishmael settled in the desert of Paran (Genesis 21:21). Ishmael’s descendants “settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt as you go toward Ashur” (Genesis 25:18). Gives a lists Ishmael 12 sons

The area of Havilah where Ishmael’s descendants lived is in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula; Shur is a wilderness area between Beersheba in the Negev Desert and Egypt. Isaiah 60:7 mentions the descendants of Nebaioth and Kedar as those who raise flocks. The descendants of Ishmael became known as Arabs, which basically means “nomads.” From the beginning, the descendants of Ishmael were a warlike people, as “they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them” (Genesis 25:18). This fulfilled God’s earlier word that Ishmael would 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” (Genesis 16:12).

There is a popular theory common among Muslims and some Christians that Arabian Muslims are direct descendants of Ishmael. In fact, Muhammad was a major proponent of this idea, claiming to be a descendant of Ishmael according to the Quran. There is most likely some truth in this theory. According to missionary and author Kenneth Fleming, “what we know for certain seems to support the theory that the Ishmaelites are, at the very least, a major element in the Arab genetic line. Old records clearly link the north Arabians with Ishmael’s descendants” But it’s unlikely that all of those in Arabia are descendants of Ishmael, as the descendants of Keturah and the children of Esau also lived in the Arabian Peninsula.

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[Genesis 16:13-16 NKJV] 13 Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, [it is] between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram [was] eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

These verses bring up an interesting topic which is called Theophany or Christophany which appear throughout the old testament, the appearance of the preincarnate Christ as the Angel of the LORD. Note that not all of these appearances of the angel of the LORD is Christ, but many are. Remember that God the Father sent both the Son of God and angels to do His will. This study will establish that it is the second member of the Trinity, God the Son was making these appearances. These appearances of the preincarnate Christ stop, when God becomes flesh. So let’s look at some preincarnate appearances of Christ, starting with Hagar in her own words.

  1. [Genesis 16:13-16 NKJV] 13 Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, [it is] between Kadesh and Bered [Southern area of Israel]. In these verses Hagar calls the person God who see and that she has also seen Him [God] who see her. 
  2. [Genesis 3:8-10 NKJV] 8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where [are] you?” 10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

Question: how do we know that this appearance was God the Son and not God the Father? We find the answer from the words of Jesus Himself.

[John 6:46 NKJV] 46 “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.

  1. [Exodus 3:2-6 NKJV] 2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush [was] not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” 4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand [is] holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, “I [am] the God of your father–the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.

Question: how do we know that this is Jesus? Answer we just read from Jesus’s own word in John 6:46 not anyone has seen God except He who is from God.

[John 1:16-18 NKJV] 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, [but] grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared [Him].

  1. [Joshua 5:13-15 NKJV] 13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “[Are] You for us or for our adversaries?” 14 So He said, “No, but [as] Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” 15 Then the Commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand [is] holy.” And Joshua did so.

Question: how do we know that this was Jesus?

 Answer; 

One, He is the Commander of the army [Host] of the LORD

Two, the Commander of the army accepted worship, angels and man did not accept worship. We only worship God!!!

[Revelation 19:10 NKJV] 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See [that you do] not [do that]! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

[Revelation 22:8-9 NKJV] 8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, “See [that you do] not [do that]. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

[Mark 5:22 NKJV] 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet

[Mark 7:25 NKJV] 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.

[Acts 10:25-26 NKJV] 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped [him]. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”

  1. [Judges 2:1-3 NKJV] 1 Then the Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: “I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you. 2 ‘And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? 3 “Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be [thorns] in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’ ” 

This when Joshua was ready to die, Angel of the LORD Christ told them because they did not obey His voice the inhabitants who were not removed will be a thorn in their side.

  1. [Gen 18:1-5 NKJV] 1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw [them], he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3 and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4 “Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 “And I will bring a morsel of bread, so that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.” 

Question: how do we know this Jesus? The answer, like all answers to these questions are found in scripture.

[Exo 3:14 NKJV] 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ “

[John 8:30-59 NKJV] ” 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How [can] You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, [but] a son abides forever. 36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 “I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” 39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 “But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 “You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father–God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 “You are of [your] father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [resources], for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 “Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 “He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” 48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 “And I do not seek My [own] glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” 52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 53 “Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 “Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw [it] and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

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