Who suggested that Abraham have a child by the slave girl Hagar?
Sarah, Abraham’s wife also named Sarai, suggested that Abraham have a child by their slave girl Hagar. She did so out of human impatience because she and Abraham still had no son, and she later lived to regret it. Abraham agreed, and Ishmael was born, but he was not the son of promise.
Les explains that Abraham and Sarai had no son, so being human they got impatient. Sarah suggested it, according to their custom, saying, “Why don’t you have a child by our slave girl, Hagar?” She lived to regret it, but she was the one who suggested it. Abraham was just as anxious to have a child, so he immediately agreed, and Ishmael was born. Yet Ishmael was not the son of promise; he was after the flesh, while Isaac is the son of promise. Les notes that many years passed: Abraham was 86 when the plan concerning Hagar was made, and God did not fulfill the promise of a son until Abraham was 100, after waiting 50 years. Nevertheless, God’s Word was sure.