Genesis 16

[Christian2]

Genesis 16

And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing; please come to my handmaid; perhaps I will be built up from her." And Abram hearkened to Sarai's voice.

So Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, at the end of ten years of Abram's dwelling in the land of Canaan, and she gave her to Abram her husband for a wife.

And he came to Hagar, and she conceived, and she saw that she was pregnant, and her mistress became unimportant in her eyes.

What does "for a wife" mean?

I always thought it is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.

Jacob also had children by his wives maidservants.

God never calls Hagar Abraham's wife.

The text does not say Abraham married Hagar.

Why wouldn't this union with Hagar be considered adultery?

Thanks.

[abelcainsbrother]

Genesis 16

And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing; please come to my handmaid; perhaps I will be built up from her." And Abram hearkened to Sarai's voice.

So Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, at the end of ten years of Abram's dwelling in the land of Canaan, and she gave her to Abram her husband for a wife.

And he came to Hagar, and she conceived, and she saw that she was pregnant, and her mistress became unimportant in her eyes.

What does "for a wife" mean?

I always thought it is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.

Jacob also had children by his wives maidservants.

God never calls Hagar Abraham's wife.

The text does not say Abraham married Hagar.

Why wouldn't this union with Hagar be considered adultery?

Thanks.

Yes,it was Adultery,it was Abraham trying to speed up God's promise to him,but we should learn from it that everything happens in God's timing not ours and we should wait until it is God's timing and not ours. Like for instance say God reveals to you something he wants you to do,it could be a ministry,business,etc it does not mean it will happen when we think it will and alot of times God has to get us ready or prepare us for it but we should not get out ahead of God's timing because everything will happen in God's time. I hope this helps.We can learn from Abraham's mistakes.