Sarai suggested Abram have a child with her maid because she was barren and believed the Lord had restrained her from bearing, though Les Feldick stresses it was done without God's instruction.
Scripture records Sarai saying, "Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing" (Genesis 16:2). Les explains that Abram and Sarai had become impatient and Sarai followed the custom of her day, which under the laws of Hammurabi allowed a wife who could not bear to obtain children through a servant. The plan produced Ishmael, whom Les describes as "after the energy of the flesh," not the son of promise.
Genesis 16:2 — This verse records Sarai's own explanation that the Lord restrained her from bearing and her request that Abram go in unto her maid Hagar.
In Genesis 16:1, Scripture states plainly, "Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar." The very next verse records Sarai's suggestion to Abram: "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." Thus the biblical text shows that Sarai herself spoke of the LORD's restraint, and Abram agreed to her proposal. The consequence is stated in 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." Later, after Isaac was born, Sarah demanded that Hagar and her son be cast out, saying, "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). Scripture presents Sarai as the one who initiated the arrangement, and it does not say that God instructed her to do so.
Les Feldick teaches that Sarai proposed this arrangement because she and Abram had become impatient waiting for a son. He points out that "without any instruction from God, without God being in this whatsoever, Sarai dips back into the custom of their day." That custom, Les explains, went back to the laws of Hammurabi, where "it was perfectly legitimate, if a woman could not bear, to have what we call a surrogate mother by way of a servant." Les emphasizes that it was Sarai's idea, not God's. In Genesis 16:2 she says, "I pray thee, go into my maid, that it may be that I may obtain children by her," and Abram hearkened to her. Les adds that Sarah lived to regret her suggestion, and he makes a key distinction: "Ishmael is after the flesh. Isaac is the son of promise." Ishmael was born "after the energy of the flesh," whereas Isaac was the child God had promised. Les also notes Sarai's barrenness as the setting: "But Sarai was barren. She had no child." This explains why she felt the need to resort to a cultural custom instead of waiting on God's promise.
Les Feldick says yes. He explains that Sarai, without any instruction from God, "dips back into the custom of their day." He then connects this custom to the laws of Hammurabi, one of the ancient Babylonian moral law codes, where it was perfectly legitimate for a woman who could not bear to have a surrogate mother by way of a servant. So Sarai's proposal followed a recognized cultural practice of that time, even though it was not God's plan.
Scripture says Abram hearkened to Sarai, and Hagar became pregnant. Les notes that Hagar then realized she had "one up" on Sarai and became arrogant, until Sarai begged Abram to send the young lady away. Later, after Isaac was born, Sarah saw Ishmael mocking and demanded that Hagar and her son be cast out, because the son of the bondwoman should not be heir with Isaac.
Les is clear that Ishmael was not the son of promise. He says Ishmael came "after the energy of the flesh," while Isaac was "the son of promise." God had kept promising a son, but Abraham and Sarai got impatient and tried to fulfill the promise in their own way, and the result was Ishmael.
Israel’s Title Deed: Understanding God's Covenant in Genesis 15
According to these tribes listed in this chapter then, Israel will have everything from northern Lebanon out to the Euphrates River cutting across the Arabian Peninsula and all the way over to the river of Egypt. Now I don't think it's referring to the Nile. I think there was another river a little further east, but it doesn't make that much difference.
Sarai's Suggestion to Abram
Les identifies that it was Sarai who suggested Abram go into her maid Hagar so that Sarai could obtain children by her, and Abram listened to her.
The Custom Behind the Suggestion
Les explains that Sarai dipped into the custom of her day, going back to the laws of Hammurabi, which permitted a surrogate mother through a servant when a wife could not bear.
Ishmael, the Son of the Flesh
Les emphasizes that Ishmael was born after the energy of the flesh and was not the son of promise, and that Sarah later regretted her suggestion.
Sarai's Barrenness
Les notes that Sarai was barren and had no child, setting the stage for her decision to suggest using Hagar.
The Flesh vs. the Promise
Les shows the later conflict between Hagar's son and Sarah's son, reinforcing that Ishmael was the son of the flesh and not the heir of promise.
The Meaning of Adonai: Understanding God as Master
Now, this is when Abraham is sending a servant, you remember, back up to Syria to get a wife for Isaac. And in verse 9, the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his what? His master. There's that master and servant relationship down in the human realm. Now, I said it also refers to husband and wife.
Who is the Angel of the Lord? Genesis 16 Bible Study
She's going to go back to Abram and Sarai. But now the Lord makes some statements. Remember it's the sovereign God Himself who is speaking, and now in verse 10, verse 11, "...the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude." Verse 11, the angel of the Lord continues, and he says, "...
Genesis 16:1: Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
This verse establishes Sarai's barrenness, which is the reason she made the suggestion to Abram.
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 is the core verse showing Sarai's own reasoning and Abram's compliance.
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 records the immediate result of the arrangement and the tension it created.
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 Sarah's own rejection of the son born through the flesh, confirming he was not the heir of promise.
Les says Abram and Sarai were becoming rather impatient about having a son. Sarai had no children, and she followed the custom of her day rather than waiting for God's promise. Les also notes that she lived to regret her suggestion.
Yes. Les explains that under the laws of Hammurabi it was perfectly legitimate for a woman who could not bear to have a surrogate mother by way of a servant. Sarai's suggestion was rooted in that cultural custom.
Because Ishmael was born after the energy of the flesh, while Isaac was the son of promise. God had kept promising Abraham a son, but Abraham and Sarai acted impatiently and tried to fulfill the promise in their own way.
Watch the Teaching: Israel’s Title Deed: Understanding God's Covenant in Genesis 15