Abraham and Sarah had a child with Hagar because, after roughly fifty years of waiting for God's promised son, they took matters into their own hands rather than continuing to trust the promise.
Les Feldick explains that Sarah first suggested using their slave girl Hagar as a surrogate mother, following the pagan customs of that day, and Abraham quickly agreed. God never instructed them to do this — it was strictly a fleshly idea. The child, Ishmael, was a natural son of Abraham, but he was not the promised son.
Genesis 16:1-4 — This is the biblical passage that records Sarai's proposal to Abram and his agreement to have a child through Hagar.
Genesis 17:20 — This shows God's later blessing upon Ishmael even though he was not the son of promise.
Scripture records that Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children and had an Egyptian handmaid named Hagar (Genesis 16:1). Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing; I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her." Abram hearkened to Sarai's voice, and Sarai gave Hagar to Abram as a wife. Abram went in unto Hagar, and she conceived (Genesis 16:2-4). The angel of the LORD later told Hagar she would bear a son named Ishmael, because the LORD had heard her affliction (Genesis 16:11). God also said, "As for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation" (Genesis 17:20). Paul later describes Ishmael as the child of the bondwoman born after the flesh, while Isaac was the child of the freewoman by promise (Galatians 4:23).
Les Feldick teaches that after about fifty years of waiting, Abraham became impatient and delved back into the pagan customs of using a surrogate mother. Sarah actually thought of it first and suggested that they have a son by their slave girl Hagar, and Abraham quickly agreed. From that fleshly idea came Ishmael, Abraham's natural son. Les stresses that God never once told Abraham or Sarah to go and have a child with Hagar. It was strictly a fleshly idea, and Ishmael is always a picture of the energy of the flesh — even in Paul's allegory in Galatians 4. Because Ishmael was Abraham's child, the Arab world claims him as the true heir through Abraham, which is the conflict in the Middle East today. But God's covenant promises continued through the promised son, Isaac, and ultimately through the Seed who is Christ. God still blessed Ishmael, promising to make him a great nation with twelve princes, yet Ishmael was never the child of promise.
Les Feldick says that Abraham waited about fifty years after receiving the promise before he became impatient. At that point, he delved back into the pagan customs of using a surrogate mother. Sarah was the one who first suggested that they have a son by their slave girl Hagar, and Abraham quickly agreed.
Les is emphatic that God never instructed Abraham or Sarah to have a child through Hagar. It was strictly a fleshly idea. In Scripture, Sarai herself proposed it when she said, "I pray thee, go in unto my maid," and Abram listened to her. Ishmael, therefore, is always presented as the product of human effort rather than divine promise.
Once Hagar became pregnant, she began taunting Sarah and making life miserable for her. Sarah finally asked Abraham to send Hagar away, but God intervened and told Hagar to return to Sarah's tent. Later, Sarah saw Hagar's son Ishmael mocking and demanded that the bondwoman and her son be cast out. Abraham loved Ishmael and was greatly grieved, but God told Abraham to listen to Sarah, because Ishmael would not be heir with Isaac.
Even though Ishmael came from a fleshly decision, God did not abandon him. The angel of the Lord told Hagar that her descendants would be multiplied exceedingly, and instructed that the child be named Ishmael because the Lord had heard her affliction. Later God promised Abraham, "As for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation." Yet the promised son who carried the covenant line was Isaac.
Covenant Promises Are Absolute
Les teaches that God's covenants with Abraham are settled and absolute, and that the coming Messiah would come through Abraham's line — the context for why the promised son mattered.
Impatience and the Surrogate Plan
Les says Abraham became impatient after about fifty years, Sarah first suggested using Hagar as a surrogate, and Abraham quickly agreed — which produced Ishmael and fuels Middle East identity claims today.
A Fleshly Idea, Not God's Command
Les emphasizes that God never instructed Abraham and Sarah to have a child with Hagar; it was a fleshly decision, and Ishmael represents the energy of the flesh throughout Scripture.
Ishmael Cast Out
Les explains that Sarah later demanded Ishmael be cast out because he was mocking, and God told Abraham to listen — showing Ishmael would not be heir with Isaac.
God Names Ishmael
Les shows God's sovereign care for Hagar and Ishmael, naming Ishmael before birth and promising to multiply his descendants exceedingly.
Abraham Believed Against Hope
Les points out that even while Abraham was physically old, he believed against hope that God would still bring the promised son and nations from his body.
Isaac and Ishmael Both Blessed
Les reminds us that God kept His promise to give Abraham a son named Isaac, while also promising to make Ishmael fruitful with twelve princes and a great nation.
Conflict With Hagar
Les describes how Hagar's pregnancy led to taunting and conflict, God sent her back to Sarah, and later Hagar and Ishmael were sent out into the desert.
Genesis 16:2: And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing; I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
This records Sarah's suggestion and Abraham's agreement — the human plan behind Ishmael's birth.
Genesis 16:4: And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
This confirms that the decision was carried out and immediately created conflict between Hagar and Sarah.
Genesis 16:11: And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
God named Ishmael before birth and showed that He had heard Hagar's affliction even though the plan was not His.
Genesis 17:20: And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
God's blessing on Ishmael even though he was not the child of promise.
Galatians 4:23: But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Paul's later distinction between Ishmael, born after the flesh, and Isaac, born by promise, which Les says is the key to understanding Hagar.
No. Les Feldick stresses that God never once told Abraham or Sarai to do this — it was strictly a fleshly idea. Ishmael is therefore used in Scripture as a picture of the energy of the flesh rather than God's promised work.
Sarah suggested it first. According to Les Feldick, Sarah thought of the surrogate idea, and Abraham quickly agreed. Genesis 16:2 records Sarai telling Abram to go into her maid Hagar.
After Hagar became pregnant, she mocked Sarah until Sarah wanted her gone. God sent Hagar back the first time, but later, after Ishmael was born and was seen mocking, Sarah demanded they be cast out, and God told Abraham to listen. God still promised to make Ishmael a great nation.
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