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hurting

Genesis 16:3-5
"3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
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.
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee."

As we continue to study Women of Faith, we are studying Hagar, the slave of Sarai, Abram's wife. This is an event that records a lot of human pain balanced it with some of God's grace. God had promised Abram that he would have MANY descendents. Only Abram was getting old. It looked like they would have no children. Sarai has a plan to have children through a surrogate; her slave Hagar. 

Abram listed to and followed through with Sarai's plan in today's verses; "And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife." This should shock us! A wife giving her husband her slave to conceive a child is a very depraved situation. This gives us a glimpse into the culture of their day. And, just how desperate Sarai feels for not being able to have a child herself. 

Next, we begin to see the unexpected feelings that rise up as this human plan comes together; "And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes." Hagar was able to conceive a child, what was wrong with Sarai? Does this make Sarai less of a woman? In Hagar's eyes it did. She "despised" Sarai! Hagar changed how she interacted with Sarai. Probably showed her no respect. Hagar might have acted like she had more authority in the house. Hagar might have claimed to have won the affection of Abram. Hagar could have made the case that she was more deserving of honor and respect because she was having a baby. This was all the blessings that Sarai had hoped and prayed for and has not received. Sarai is hurting. 
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