God commanded Hagar to return to Sarai because His eternal purposes required Hagar to remain in Abram's household until the promised son Isaac came on the scene.
Les Feldick points out that God did not fully explain the reason at the moment; He simply told Hagar to go back and stay there. God knew that thirteen years later He would direct Hagar and Ishmael back out into the desert, and Les says God had 'an eternal purpose in the whole thing' that become a living example of a New Testament truth.
Genesis 16:9 — The angel of the LORD directly commands Hagar to return to Sarai and submit under her hands.
After Sarai dealt harshly with Hagar, Hagar fled into the wilderness. The angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water and asked, 'Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go?' Hagar answered, 'I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.' Then the angel commanded her: 'Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.' The Bible does not record God explaining His reasoning at that exact moment. The command is given directly, and the text moves on. Later, however, Sarah would say, 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac' (Genesis 21:10), showing that Hagar's return placed her in Abraham's household for a longer purpose.
Les observes that God had a purpose even in telling Hagar to go back. He asks directly, 'Now why?' and then points out that God already knew that thirteen years later He would tell Hagar and Ishmael to go right back out into the desert where He found her in the first place. Les also notes that Hagar and Ishmael were 'sent back' and spent some twelve or thirteen years under Abraham's tent. He says there is 'more here than meets the eye' and that God had an eternal purpose in the whole thing, making the episode a living example of a New Testament truth. In God's timing, Ishmael would mock Isaac, the son of promise, and Hagar and Ishmael would then be sent away permanently.
The trouble began when Abram and Sarai tried to fulfill God's promise through their own plan. After ten years of waiting, Sarai gave Hagar to Abram as a surrogate mother. Les explains that Hagar was an Egyptian and that this was a customary arrangement in that culture. When Hagar saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes, and Les describes Hagar as getting 'puffed up, arrogant, and impossible.' Sarai then dealt harshly with Hagar, and Hagar fled from her face.
God met Hagar in the wilderness and did what Sarai could not do: He told her to return to Sarai's tent. Les asks the question directly, 'Now why?' He then points out that God already knew that thirteen years later He would tell Hagar and Ishmael to go back out into the desert. So the return was not the final destination; it was a divinely directed stop in a longer purpose. In Clip 7, Les says God had an 'eternal purpose in the whole thing,' and that it would become 'a living example of a New Testament truth.'
Hagar and Ishmael were back under Abraham's roof for some twelve or thirteen years. During that time Isaac, the promised son, was born and became a young lad. Later, Sarah demanded, 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son' (Genesis 21:10), and God's purpose behind the return began to come into view. Les says there is more here than meets the eye and connects the account to Ishmael's treatment of Isaac and to God's eternal purpose.
Who is the Angel of the Lord? Genesis 16 Bible Study
and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes, and the Lord judged between me and thee. But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, the maid is in thy hand. Do to her as it pleases thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. Hagar takes off, and then in verse 7, I think here's where we left off, "...
God's Command and the Thirteen-Year Clue
God told Hagar to return to Sarah's tent, and Les points out that God already knew thirteen years later Hagar and Ishmael would be sent out into the desert—showing the return was part of a longer purpose.
The Human Side: Abram and Sarai's Plan
Les explains that Abram and Sarai had waited ten years and then took Hagar to bear a child, which sets the context for Hagar's flight and God's later command to return.
Twelve or Thirteen Years Under Abraham's Roof
Les notes that after being sent back, Hagar and Ishmael remained under Abraham's tent for twelve or thirteen years, and that there was 'more here than meets the eye'—part of God's larger purpose.
Hagar the Egyptian and Surrogate Motherhood
Les highlights that Hagar was Egyptian and that Sarai's plan was a customary surrogate arrangement, showing the cultural backdrop of why the question of her return matters.
The Energy of the Flesh
Les emphasizes that the entire plan to use Hagar was Sarai's idea and an act of the energy of the flesh, not something God had commanded.
Hagar's Pride and Sarai's Harshness
Les describes Hagar becoming arrogant after conceiving, and Sarai dealing harshly with her—leading to Hagar's flight into the wilderness.
God Intervenes: 'Go Back to Sarah's Tent'
Les stresses that God personally intervened to tell Hagar to return, because God had an eternal purpose that would make the episode a living example of a New Testament truth.
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 verse explains the root conflict that led Hagar to flee from Sarai.
Genesis 16:6: But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
This shows the harsh treatment Hagar received before her flight into the wilderness.
Genesis 16:8: And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
The angel of the LORD confronts Hagar about her flight, setting up the command to return.
Genesis 16:9: And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
This is the direct command from God that answers the question.
Genesis 21:10: Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
This later verse shows the eventual separation that gives meaning to Hagar's earlier return.
No. The Bible records the command, 'Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands' (Genesis 16:9), without adding an explanation at that moment. Les asks, 'Now why?' and points instead to what would happen thirteen years later, when Hagar and Ishmael would be directed back into the desert.
Les states that after Hagar was sent back, she and Ishmael spent 'some twelve or thirteen years' under the roof of Abraham's tent. During that time Isaac, the son of promise, was born and grew to be a young lad.
Because the episode was part of God's eternal purpose. Les says God knew that thirteen years later Hagar and Ishmael would be sent out into the desert, and that the whole episode would become a living example of a New Testament truth.
Watch the Teaching: Who is the Angel of the Lord? Genesis 16 Bible Study