Genesis Abram has left his hometown for Canaan for many years. God really blessed Abram and made him rich, with many cattle and sheep, gold and silver and jewels. When his servant chased the army of Kedar Ma Lao, God helped him, making this huge army that should have won the battle give up everything and run away in panic, so that Abram saved his nephew Lot. God helped Abram in everything. But ... one night, Abram was sitting alone in the tent. The sun has set, the night is getting deeper and deeper, and only tens of millions of stars are shining in the sky. Abram sat there thinking, sighing from time to time, and his face was sad. What upset him? Is Abram sick? No, it's not. Is he afraid? ..... why? Son, Abram was afraid that Kedar Ma Lao's army would come back for revenge. What shall we do if they really come back? ..... which really worried Abram. Besides, there are some things that worry Abram. God promised him a son. However, he has lived in Canaan for ten years and has never seen his son. He is old, 85 years old, and so is his wife Sarai, 75 years old. Who knows when they will go home? It's a pity that he didn't leave any offspring, and he had already passed the childbearing age, which was also a matter of great distress to Abram. He sat there alone, thinking. He sat in the dark and could not see anyone. ..... Did no one really see him? Oh! One of them saw it! People who know Abram's thoughts, people who understand Abram's fears and worries, and people who are God. Kid! Even when you think people can't see, God can still see. God can see everything, no matter how dark. That is, we think that no one can see, and God's eyes can still see. Have you ever thought about it that way? God naturally saw Abram sitting there worrying. Suddenly, a voice in Abram's tent said, "Don't be afraid, Abram, I am your shield and I will give you a generous reward." It turned out that God was talking to Abram. God seems to say, "Abram, you are worried, aren't you?" Don't be afraid, Abram. With me by your side, I will protect you, take care of you and repay you. "Abram immediately recognized the voice of God. He replied, "God! Since I have no children, what else can you give me? " Abram seemed to say to God, "God! You gave me everything. I have wealth, honor, cattle and sheep, gold and silver, but I have no descendants. I have only one loyal servant, eliezer. After my death, he will inherit my property, and all my cattle, sheep, gold and silver will belong to him. Eliezer was from Damascus, not far from where Abram lived. Eliezer was a man who feared God. We will talk about him later. After Abram said these words, God answered him, "No, Abram, your servant will not inherit your inheritance, and you will have a son. Outside the tent. " Abram stood up and went outside the tent. God said to him, "Look at the number of stars in the sky. Count them! "! I can't count, can I? I want to make your descendants countless. Do you know where they will live? Right here. I will give the land of Canaan to your children for an inheritance. Abram believed in God's word, and believed that God's word would be fulfilled. Then God made a covenant with Abram. Abram took a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old sheep, a young pigeon and a turtledove, and killed them, cut them in half and lined them up. Abram waited a long time. Some birds come to eat. Abram drove them away. It was noon. Soon, dusk came and it was getting dark. Abram was tired and fell asleep before he knew it. I don't know how long it took, but he suddenly woke up before it was completely dark. Suddenly, he saw the flame passing among the animals slaughtered in half. Fire is like a torch, and smoke is like a rising stove. Fire and smoke represent the arrival of God. He heard the voice of God again. God told Abram in advance what would happen to his children. They will live in Egypt and suffer. But God will save them and bring them back to live in Canaan. Abram was no longer afraid. He knew that God would at least give him a son. Although he is old, God will still keep his promise. Everyone gets discouraged sometimes, not only Abram but also his wife. As we just said, Abram was worried and afraid. Now, let's talk about Sarai. Sarai often prayed to God to give her a son, but God didn't seem to listen. One day, Sarai said to Abram, "Abram, it seems that I won't have children. You'd better take my maid Hagar as a concubine! " "Hagar is a woman from Egypt, do you remember? Shortly after Abram arrived in Canaan, he went to Egypt for famine. The king of Egypt introduced Sarai to the palace and planned to marry her. At that time, Pharaoh gave Hagar to Abram as a gift. I don't know. Now Sarai wants Abram to take Hagar as his concubine. You might say, "How is that possible? Isn't Abram married? "Polygamy is no longer allowed in today's society. A person can only marry one woman. However, polygamy was very common in the society at that time. Think about it. Didn't Lamar have two wives? In fact, polygamy is not good and there are many problems. However, at that time, God allowed it. This example is like this. Abram listened to Sarai and took Hagar as his concubine. Abram had two wives, Sarai and Hagar. However, after Hagar entered the door, she no longer listened to Sarai, nor did she listen to Sarai's instructions. For example, Sarai asked Hagar to get a bottle of water. Hagar would say, "I'm not going. If you want to take it, you can take it yourself. Sarai was angry and told Abram. Abram said to his wife, "Hagar must obey you. "One day, Sarai told Hagar to do something, but Hagar still refused. Sarai said, "You must do this. You must obey everything I tell you. "Guess what happened to Hagar? She ran away from home. She doesn't want to stay in Abram and Sarai's tent anymore. She fled to the wilderness and ran so fast that she was afraid of being caught back. She was tired and thirsty from running. Later, she ran to a fountain and sat down to rest. Suddenly, a voice said, "Hagar, what are you doing here?" Where are you going? "God is talking to her. Hagar answered honestly, "I escaped. God said, "Hagar, you have done something wrong." You are not allowed to escape. You must go back to Abram and Sarai. From now on, you must do what Sarai says, and don't be self-righteous. "Hagar listen carefully. God also said, "Hagar, you shall have a son, and you shall call her Ishmael. I will bless him, he will become a great country. "Hagar never dared to disobey again, so she got up and went back to Sarai, begging Sarai to calm her down and assuring Sarai that no matter what Sarai asked her to do, she would listen. What God said really came true. Hagar was pregnant and gave birth to a son. Abram named him Ishmael, because God told Hagar. How happy do you think Abram is that he finally has offspring. He likes his son Ishmael very much. Ishmael grew up and began to walk. Abram sometimes takes him to see cattle and sheep. Sometimes when he left home, Abram would take Ishmael with him. Abram thought, after my death, Isaac will not inherit my property, and all my cattle, sheep, gold and silver will go to Ishmael. So is Ishmael's mother. She often said to Ishmael, "Ishmael, do your best. When father dies, it will be yours. How nice! "So, Sarai? ..... alas! People almost forgot the existence of Sarai. Abram has been with Ishmael. Hagar thought, "Sarai is dead, and I will be the only hostess. Sarai also knew that Ishmael would inherit all Abram's property one day. She is sad because she has no children. Abram also gradually ignored Sarai. Hagar and her son Ishmael forgot her. However, God has not forgotten Sarai. God still remembers her and wants to turn her sadness into happiness.