Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 16:7-16

"And the angel of Jehovah found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai`s handmaid, whence camest thou? and whither goest thou? And she said, I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai. And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, I will greatly multiply thy seed, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son; and thou shalt call his name Ishmael, because Jehovah hath heard thy affliction. And he shall be [as] a wild ass among men; his hand [shall be] against every man, and every man`s hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his brethren. And she called the name of Jehovah that spake unto her, Thou art a God that seeth: for she said, Have I even here looked after him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bare, Ishmael. And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram." — Genesis 16:7-16 (ASV)

Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. From where do you come? Consider that you are running from duty, and the privileges you were blessed with in Abram's tent.

It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought to consider who have this advantage. To where will you go? You are running into sin; if Hagar returns to Egypt, she will return to idol gods, and into danger in the wilderness through which she must travel. Recollecting who we are would often teach us our duty.

Inquiring from where we came would show us our sin and folly. Considering to where we shall go discovers our danger and misery. And those who leave their space and duty must hasten their return, however mortifying it may be. The declaration of the Angel, “I will,” shows that this Angel was the eternal Word and Son of God.

Hagar could not help but admire the Lord's mercy, and feel, "Have I, who am so unworthy, been favoured with a gracious visit from the Lord?" She was brought to a better temper, returned, and by her behavior softened Sarai, and received more gentle treatment. Would that we were always suitably impressed with this thought, Thou God seest me!