This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may go to the archive at the bottom of the main page and find it.

Bruce McGee
P.O. Box 69
Columbia, LA 71418

Commentaries are available, at the present time, for Genesis through John.
Send $7.50 per book (plus S/H $2.00 per book) to the address above.
Please designate which book(s) you desire.

We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik HERE

According to the custom of that day and time, a wife who had no children could offer her servant to her husband. The servant would become his second wife, but any children born would be considered as belonging to the first wife.
Should we follow the "customs" of the world? God's plan for a family has always been ONE woman with ONE man for one lifetime.
God has just promised Abram a son by his own "bowels" (Genesis 15:4). And Sarai's interpretation of that is that Abram can have a child, but she still cannot.
Six years have progressed since God's promise and no son has been born (verse 16).
Abram listened to this assessment of the situation and apparently went along with Sarai.
It is RIGHT that a man should listen to his wife. Marriage is a partnership.
But when anyone gives advice contrary to God's Word - Christians should disregard it!
Don't follow the advice of the world (or the customs of it) when that advice contradicts God's Word.
((Remember this instance. Abram learns from it. The next time his wife gives advice, he is hesitant to go along with it.))

Why would Hagar now think less of Sarai? Well, she has conceived; but Sarai never had. Two things she may be thinking: one, she is more able than Sarai; and two, the child she will deliver will make her more important than Sarai.
Sarai perceived the problem and apologizes to Abram. She realizes the error, and is sorry that she's placed this wrong on her husband.
Sins DO affect other people!!

Abram did not really want to deal with this problem. So he left it to Sarai. Sarai dealt "harshly" with Hagar, and Hagar ran away.
Notice verse seven says, "the angel of the LORD found" Hagar. That definite article the means (to me) that this was an appearance of Jesus Christ.

The Lord directed Hagar to return to Sarai and be submissive. Does this mean that God condones slavery! NO!
Does this mean that God condones bigamy? NO!
What it means is that God is showing mercy to Hagar. She was wrong in being arrogant, and now she has run away because she was reproved.
Many people have been hurt in church (the family of God). But to run away from church because our pride has been hurt, is to run TOWARD sin!
Proverbs 21:16 says,

Hagar has been running away from the very family which can help her to overcome her arrogance and pride.
She is running toward Egypt, which is a symbol of pride and arrogance.
God is showing her mercy by returning her to Abram and Sarai.

The Lord tells Hagar that her son will be like a wild onager. That's a wild DONKEY!
He will be against everyone that is not his family. And he will always want to live in his OWN family.
This man's descendents have been a "thorn in the side" of Abraham's descendents unto this very day.
Even so, God is in CONTROL. He is trying to teach Hagar a lesson in humility which she might pass on to her son.
But God already KNOWS that this child will grow to be a "menace" (if you will).
Proverbs 16:4 says,

Hagar named the well where God found her the "well of the God who sees me."
God had seen her when she was lost and alone; but He saved her.
God knows what's going on in the hearts of every person!
He is God Who SEES all things -- even the spiritual things of a person's heart!

Now Ishamael was born (according to verse 16) when Abram was 86 years old (Sarai is 76). This means when Isaac is born that Ishmael will be about 14 years old. You see, Abram was 100 and Sarai 90 when Isaac was born.
God had a plan to use even the wicked of the world. Hagar returned and had Ismael who was later referred to by Paul as "..of the bondwoman..born of the flesh.." (Galatians 4:23).
Ishmael was born under the bondage of sin. he could have been delivered from that bondage, if he would have been submissive to God's Word and God's family. But he refused!
There are millions today who are born in the bondage of sin ("..after the flesh.."). But they can be delivered from it if they will surrender to God, His Word and His family.
Have you?