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“The God Who Sees” Genesis 16  

This material is intended for either personal or group discussion. Please use the material as best suits your needs, usage and learning situation.  

Gathering

·      Welcome

·      Check in—updates, prayer requests, sharing

·      Opening Prayer  

READ: Genesis 16 [March 27, 2022 Nelson Ave Morning Message]

·      What do you notice about these verses?

·      What questions do you have about these verses?

·      What do you sense is the tone of this passage?  

VIDEO: Watch: “Genesis 12-50” (Bible Project) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4isSyennFo  

·      What comments do you have about this video?

·      How does this video help you put the above reading (Genesis 16) into context?

·      How does this video help you understand the main theme(s) of Genesis 12-50?

·      How would you summarize the book of Genesis and its main message?  

QUESTIONS [Genesis 16]

·      What did you know or think about Hagar before reading the above passage (Genesis 16)?

·      How should we understand Abram and Sarah’s actions in verses 1-6? Are they acting sinfully? Can we use the word “abusive” to speak of how they treat Hagar?

·      Try to imagine yourself as Hagar fleeing into the wilderness—why are you doing this? What would it take to make someone flee into the desert / wilderness all by themselves? What does your future look like?

·      What do we find out about God in the following verses?

o  [God says] “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” (verse 8)—why does God ask Hagar this question?

o  Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” (verse 9)—Is the “angel of the Lord” the same as the “Lord” himself? Why would the Lord send Hagar back to Sarah?

o  The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” (verse 10)—what part of the Bible does this remind of us?

o  “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery” (verse 11)—what does the name “Ishmael” mean? According to Bible who are the descendants of Ishmael? Has God made good on this promise?

·      In verse 13 we read: “[Hagar] gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.’”

o  Is there any significance to the fact that Hagar “gave” a name to the Lord?

o  Why does she name the Lord “the God who sees me”? What exactly has God seen?

·      As you think about your life or the lives of others what and how does God see? Does this give you any comfort and hope?

·      Do you have any final comments or questions about this story?  

CONCLUDING PRAYER 

DISMISSAL