1 Now Sar'ai, Abram's wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar;
While the soul is still base in nature, not yet restored to it’s proper place in consciousness, she cannot produce influences contributing to the spiritually evolving consciousness symbolized by Abram, which is also still in the beginning phases of the path. Hagar means “wanderer” and represents the Animal Soul. She is the servant to the evolving Spiritual Soul represented by Sarai.
2 and Sar'ai said to Abram, "Behold now, YHVH has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my maid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her." And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sar'ai.
The evolving Spiritual Soul (Sarai) has not reached a point where it can multiply in power (have children). YHVH preventing Sarai from having children symbolizes the evolving soul not yet having sufficiently rejoined Spirit to enable it to grow. So, the evolving consciousness joins with the Animal Soul (Hagar).
3 So, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, Sar'ai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to Abram, her husband, as a wife.
Once the evolving consciousness (Abram) matures in the body (Canaan), the evolving soul merges with the evolving consciousness\Ego (Abram). The evolving soul actually causes this itself.
4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.
When the Consciousness merges with the Animal Soul, it causes the Animal Soul to multiply within the psyche. As it multiplies, it begins to interfere with the evolution of the spiritual part of the soul (Sarai). This is symbolized here by Hagar looking on Sarai with contempt.
5 And Sar'ai said to Abram, "May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my maid to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May YHVH judge between you and me!"
This new arrangement threatens the union of evolving consciousness (Abram) and the evolving soul (Sarai). This happens as the Animal Soul begins to grow in power. The consciousness cannot evolve if it is dominated by the Animal Soul and a choice must be made about which one to indulge in. This is symbolized by Sarai asking YHVH for judgment.
6 But Abram said to Sar'ai, "Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her as you please." Then Sar'ai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.
Consciously, the individual (Abram) must realize that the Animal Soul is controlled by the evolving Spiritual Soul. At this point, the Animal Soul must be weakened to allow the Spiritual Soul to evolve.
7 The angel of YHVH found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.
The Animal Soul continues expanding within the consciousness, fleeing the evolving spiritual part of the soul. This is symbolized by Hagar heading for Shur, which means “going round”, “wall”.
8 And he said, "Hagar, maid of Sar'ai, where have you come from and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from my mistress, Sar'ai."
The angel of YHVH inquiring of Hagar symbolizes that she is not truly evolving, but hiding at this point. She says as much here.
9 The angel of YHVH said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit to her."
However, in order for the consciousness to evolve, the Animal Soul must be purified by the Spiritual Soul. This is why the angel instructs Hagar to return to Sarai and submit.
10 The angel of YHVH also said to her, "I will so greatly multiply your descendants that they cannot be numbered for multitude."
The angel of YHVH explains that by doing this, she will contribute to the evolving of consciousness as a whole, which will increase her spiritual power (symbolized by the endless multiplying of her descendants).
11 And the angel of YHVH said to her, "Behold, you are with child, and shall bear a son; you shall call his name Ish'mael; because YHVH has given heed to your affliction.
Ishmael symbolizes the thoughts of the Animal Man. These are also heard by Spirit and obeyed.
12 He shall be a wild ass of a man, his hand against every man and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen."
However, these thoughts are contrary to those of the spiritual part of the soul. This is symbolized by Ishmael’s wild nature.
13 So she called the name of YHVH who spoke to her, "Thou art a God of seeing"; for she said, "Have I really seen him that seeth me?"
The Animal Soul is doubtful of spiritual experiences at this stage in spiritual development, and this is symbolized here by Hagar’s questioning.
14 Therefore the well was called Beer-la'hai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.
Beer-la’hai-roi means “the well of the living one who sees me” and symbolizes the recognition that the entire life is divine and allowing your inner Spirit to guide you. This state lies between the new ideas forming within the individual (Bered) and Kadesh (the Inner, Pure, Divine Nature).
15 And Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ish'mael.
And this is how the animal soul gets stronger and slowly begins to be purified. The evolving conscious learns to understand this, which is symbolized by Abram naming his son Ishmael, as was given by the angel of YHVH.
16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ish'mael to Abram.
Abram’s age signifies the raising of the soul toward Spirit, causing Spiritual Transformation.