Thank you for the question on Hagar’s submission to Sarai, “Why did the Angel of the Lord demand that Hagar return to Sarai (Genesis 16: 9) if she mistreated Hagar (Genesis 16: 6)?”
Here are some thoughts for your consideration as why the Angel of the LORD commanded Hagar to submit to Sarai.
A. The role of Hagar within Abram’s family was a handmaid to Sarai (Gen. 16:2).
Hagar was a purchased Egyptian maid. She was in bondage before Abram purchased her. Abram gave Hagar to his wife, Sarai as her handmaiden. This position was an honored position for her.
B. The role of Hagar was to submit to the authority of Sarai (Gen. 16:3).
Sarai had the authority to command her to fulfill her wishes. The only other person who can override Sarai’s decision was Abram.
C. The role of Hagar as the second wife was to bear a child for Abram and Sarai (Gen. 16:3), but her role change as Abram gave Sarai authority over her (Gen. 16:4–6).
The Scriptures state that Sarai began to treat Hagar poorly because of Hagar’s attitude toward Sarai. It was not that Sarai was cruel or mean to her that we know of but as a response of Hagar’s despising her. She may have thought that she would now become the first wife since she was carrying his child. Sarai shared how she felt to Abram and Abram restated her authority over Hagar. Sarai could do whatever she thinks was best and Sarai mistreated her.
D. The child that Hagar was carrying was not hers, but Abram and Sarai (Gen. 16:10) with a hint that her lineage will be a blessed one.
Hagar was not free to leave Abram’s household or to take the unborn child from them. Neither Abram or Sarai released her to be free. Thus she was still under the authority of Abram and Sarai. Running away would not mean that she would be free but that may even complicate the situation even more as Abram could have sent servants to bring her back. Hagar knew that she wasn’t a free woman. She hasn’t been granted her freedom.
E. The
Thus as one looks at the context, the Angel of the LORD’s command to Hagar to return in submission to Sarai was to preserve social order and to acknowledge that the child to be born is from Abram. The Angel of the LORD declared to Hagar that the her descendants will be too many to count, that she will have a son, and that the son will in conflict with others (Gen. 16:11–12).
E. The protection of Hagar and the unborn child.
For Hagar with her unborn child to live in the wilderness/desert area by herself would place her in great danger. She had no one to protect or to provide for her. If strangers came across her, they could have sold her or made her their slave. She was defenseless. Fleeing from Sarai was not a solution for a pregnant woman.
It is important to observe Hagar’s response that her mistreatment by Sarai was known to the LORD. She states that “You are the God who sees me. I have now seen the one who sees me” (Gen. 16:13). God was not ignorant of the family dynamic between Abram, Sarai and Hagar. She could return in submission knowing that God had a plan for the son to be born from her. Did Hagar had a change of attitude? The story continues to unfold as to how the Angel of the LORD’s message will be ultimately fulfilled.
SUMMARY: The Angel of the LORD commanded her to return to Abram’s household for her protection and to fulfill her role as a maidservant of Sarai and wife to Abram. The future relationship will between Abram and Hagar will hinge on her attitude toward them. She can’t change the past conflictual relationship or continue in it. The choice was hers.
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