Genesis 16:Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 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.
Under normal circumstances, Abraham most likely would not have succumbed to the suggestion that he should have a child by Sarah’s handmaid, Hagar, for he was a righteous man. But as they both grew increasingly impatient with the fulfillment of God’s promise, the alternative on the table looked more and more feasible.
If Sarah was not barren, and if she had not passed the age of child bearing, it is quite likely that there would be a stellar record of faithfulness to his wife, for there would be no logical or plausible reason to have Hagar, and Sarah would be furious with him if she got wind of even a thought in Abraham’s mind of such a rendezvous.
But as time passed by, and the stated promises of God began to fade into oblivion in their minds, the alternatives began to take on a life of their own and what would have once seemed as unthinkable and ludicrous, now seemed viable, and the only possible route for them to take.
Genesis 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!