Genesis 16

“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children” (v1).  This was the fact that Abram and Sarai were facing:  after a decade of faithfully following God, they had not received their miracle.  With each year that passed, it seemed more impossible that it could ever happen.  So Sarai and Abram decided to try to “force” the miracle to happen on their own terms, by using Hagar as a substitute mother.  Of course, this choice produced terrible conflict and suffering (v4-12). 

When Abram and Sarai turned away from God to satisfy their heart’s desire, they created a disaster.  However, God’s redeeming love did not abandon them.