Genesis 16:1-5

2007.Apr.16 02:46

Dumb—-s in the Bible: Let the Contest Begin!

Read Genesis 16:1-5 Full Chapter

Abram’s wife Sarai had not been able to have any children. But she owned a young Egyptian slave woman named Hagar, and Sarai said to Abram, “The LORD has not given me any children. Sleep with my slave, and if she has a child, it will be mine.” Abram agreed, and Sarai gave him Hagar to be his wife. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan for ten years. (Genesis 16:1-3, CEV)

Let’s get some timing set here. This event happens after Abram and Sarai have been in Canaan for ten years. “Abram was seventy-five years old when the LORD told him to leave the city of Haran” (Genesis 12:4, CEV), so he’s probably a few years beyond 85. Sarai is about nine years younger than her husband (Genesis 17:17), so she’s around 75. Hagar is “young”; she may have become Sarai’s slave when she and Abram stopped in Egypt during the famine, probably a few years back.

Sarai is barren to this point, which is apparently looked down upon by this culture. The appropriate and correct thing to do, I think, would have been for Sarai and Abram to discuss the issue (Abram, likewise, is concerned about not having children). They ought to have then (or whilst discussing it together) prayed to Jehovah that they might have children together (as God has directly promised descendants to Abram), and had faith that the God who had so protected and blessed them would work this out.

Nope. Sarai and Abram try to “fix it” on their own, by Abram having sex with Sarai’s slave, Hagar. Gosh, let’s see how this turns out.

Later, when Hagar knew she was going to have a baby, she became proud and was hateful to Sarai. Then Sarai said to Abram, “It’s all your fault! I gave you my slave woman, but she has been hateful to me ever since she found out she was pregnant. You have done me wrong, and you will have to answer to the LORD for this.” (Genesis 16:4-5, CEV)

Both Hagar and Sarai may feel that Hagar has succeeded where Sarai has failed. Despite being a foolish attitude to begin with–in my opinion–this leads to dissension between the two, Hagar being “proud and hateful to Sarai”, Sarai being jealous and hateful to Hagar. I’ve heard discussion tracing Arab-Jewish violence in the Middle East to this situation, which assumes the Ishmael, Hagar and Abram’s son, is an ancestor of some Arabs; I don’t know–beyond a quick glance through Wikipedia–whether there’s any true to this ancestry, and if there is, if that line of discussion has any value anyway. I mention it only because I like to mention random things.

Hagar and Sarai, who may or may not have been close, now despise each other and the household is full of anger. Sarai, who proposed this mess, now places the full blame on Abram. And he does deserve much of the blame. But so does Sarai. I have a hard time much blaming Hagar in this, since she may have had zero choice in the matter, and, although still wrong, her becoming prideful is certainly understandable. But Sarai and Abram both chose to try to fix what they considered a problem on their own without seeking God.

As a man, I want to focus a particular moment on Abram. Sinning as a husband because your wife asked you too or did something that resulted in your action is still sin of which you bear the full responsibility. Blaming is a cop out, and God calls everyone to responsibility for their own sin (Ezekiel 18:30, Deuteronomy 24:16). Pleasing someone else, even your spouse, is never a justification for sinning.

In Abram and Sarai’s lives, we see a lot of faith, but we also see several situations, such as this, wherein they reject faith, and they and others suffer because of it. But I think it’s worth pointing out that ultimately we consider their lives successful. Yep, we all fall short of the glory of God, but he redeems us if we let him. (Romans 3:21-26–and guess who Romans 4 talks about).

Genesis 16:6-16

2007.Apr.20 02:53

Hagar’s Child

Read Genesis 16:6-16 Full Chapter

Abram said, “All right! She’s your slave, and you can do whatever you want with her.” But Sarai began treating Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away. Hagar stopped to rest at a spring in the desert on the road to Shur. While she was there, the angel of the LORD came to her and asked, “Hagar, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She answered, “I’m running away from Sarai, my owner.” (Genesis 16:6-8, CEV)

As I said last entry, I have a lot more sympathy for Hagar than Sarai or Abram in this situation. However, Hagar’s pride comes back to her. We are, after all, responsible for our own sin, regardless of the mitigating circumstances. That Jehovah gives us grace is a gift rather than a right. Abram, who–I assume–had been keeping Sarai from treating Hagar badly, gives in to the pressure from his wife. Sarai and/or Abram could have reprimanded Hagar for her attitude in an appropriate way. Instead, Sarai treats her so harshly that Hagar runs away. Error compounds error, sin compounds sin. Sarai’s desire for a child turned into a lust, which caused her to abandon faith, which led to jealousy, to hatred, to cruelty. Which is to say nothing of Abram’s sins and follies here.

God’s having nothing of this mess though. He has an angel visit Hagar as she’s running away. Hagar makes a first move in getting this whole deal sorted out. When the angel asks her what she’s doing, she responds honestly. God makes himself known through his messenger, and Hagar does not run from him or start throwing out excuses. And suddenly, things start to change. Now, this soap opera is not going to suddenly go happy for everyone, and there’s much more to play out in it, but responding honestly to Jehovah changes the situation from an ever-sliding disaster to one in which appropriate steps can be taken. Now that someone’s listening to God, it turns out he has things to say.

The angel said, “Go back to Sarai and be her slave. I will give you a son, who will be called Ishmael, because I have heard your cry for help. And later I will give you so many descendants that no one will be able to count them all. But your son will live far from his relatives; he will be like a wild donkey, fighting everyone, and everyone fighting him.” Hagar thought, “Have I really seen God and lived to tell about it?” So from then on she called him, “The God Who Sees Me.” That’s why people call the well between Kadesh and Bered, “The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me.” Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave birth to their son, and he named him Ishmael. (Genesis 16:6-8, CEV)

Jehovah instructs Hagar to submit to Sarai. This now becomes a choice on Hagar’s part; she has run away, and does not have to go back, but she can honor God by doing so. That is to pointedly say, this is not a affirmation of human slavery, but rather a reminder that God may call us to submit to inhumane conditions because of a greater purpose. Jehovah does not leave Hagar to imagine what her carrot might be here. The angel tells her one of the blessings Jehovah has in store. Hagar’s child will be born, and while his life will have plenty of difficulties, Hagar’s descendants, like Sarai’s, will be numerous.

Hagar’s response to all this really encourages me. She doesn’t even get caught up in the descendants bit, as Abram sometimes seems to do. She is pleased to know that God has heard her and responded to her. She calls him “The God Who Sees Me”, from then on. She rejoices in the presence of God, makes a personal connection with him, and obeys him. And a situation that had multiple people competing for the dumb—- in the Bible award turns around by the power of God and the willingness of one person. Everything perfect? No, but things are looking up, as Hagar returns, gives birth and has Abram name his first-born Ishmael, in obedience to Jehovah’s instruction to Hagar.

Genesis 17:17-21

2007.May.15 02:43

Why not Ishmael?

Read Genesis 17:17-21 Full Chapter

Then Abraham fell upon his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear?” And Abraham said unto God, “O that Ishmael might live before Thee!” And God said, “Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed, and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. Twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.” (Genesis 17:17-21, KJ21)

God has changed Abram’s name to Abraham, Sarai’s to Sarah. They’ve received many blessings from Jehovah, but they long for one more, a child. This has been complicated about fourteen years prior by Sarai’s suggestion, and Abram’s acceptance, that he sleep with Hagar, who has had a son, Ishmael. When Jehovah ends this name changing with an explanation that Sarah will give birth, the newly named Abraham laughs. This is a guy that the author of Hebrews goes on about for his faith, and he’s laughing at God’s promise. Of course, as he points out, he is one hundred, his wife ninety. Not really child bearing age.

Jehovah does not turn his back on Abraham for this questioning, but affirms his promise, naming the as-yet-unconceived child Isaac, for whom he has a very specific and long-ranging plan. God has chosen to establish an everlasting covenant with Isaac and his descendants. What this covenant contains, Jehovah does not here elaborate, though we may assume that it includes God’s previous covenant with Abraham to give to his descendants the land of Canaan.

There is an additional thread to this discussion, beyond the promise of Isaac and the forthcoming covenant. The CEV translates Abraham as asking, “”Why not let Ishmael inherit what you have promised me” (Genesis 17:18, CEV)? Abraham’s logic here is pretty simple: he already has a son. Jehovah does not really answer the question, but he does respond to Abraham’s desires for his first-born. Ishmael, God promises, will be blessed. He will father twelve princes, and have many descendants. Indeed, the promises for Ishmael are not so different than those for Isaac.

But I must pause on one very important difference. It is with Isaac, not Ishmael, that Jehovah will establish his particular covenant. The burning question of why, then. Well, God does not explain here. In fact, I’m not sure it’s ever explained in the Bible. A few ideas come to mind, but I only want to ponder one just now: Isaac is the child of God’s promise (Genesis 15). Ishmael is the child of an attempt to rush God’s promise. Abram and Sarai tried to take over the process. Jehovah has not punished Ishmael for this, although he has had some rough times do to dissension between Sarai and Hagar. Neither does Jehovah switch his promises over to Ishmael, but instead stays his course, bringing Isaac to birth in his timing. Now, maybe that’s the reason and maybe it’s crazy talk. But sometimes when we ask “Why not”, it’s because we’re not seeing the promise.

Genesis 21:11-13

2007.Nov.18 23:37

Distressing Decisions

Read Genesis 21:11-13 Full Chapter

The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.” (Genesis 21:11-13, NASB)

Abraham is in a difficult situation. I imagine this makes splitting up with Lot and such seem easy to the man from Chaldea. As I discussed regarding Sarah in my last entry, he made a bad decision that got him into this mess. I’ll grant that decision (to have sex with Hagar based on Sarah’s suggestion) involved some difficulties, but I still think the wise decision (“no”) was obvious. Now he faces another distressing decision.

Here’s the two major options, now: 1. Keep Hagar and Ishmael in the family; piss off Sarah. 2. Do as Sarah requests; send Hagar and Ishmael (his (mistress?) and son) off, quite possibly to die.

What the f— do you do in a situation like that? Seriously. I want to say #1, but how would he? Granted, I’m not too concerned with figuring it out. I can’t conceive of getting into this situation in the first place. But, then, I suppose it’s pretty normal, predicted or not, to end oneself up in a situation simply with no good solution, by the slow accretion of foolish decisions.

I guess I could quote most of Proverbs here, about wisdom and such. But when I’m thinking of distressing decisions, what comes to my mind is Paul talking himself and others going out and sharing about Jesus.

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:1-10, NASB)

I’m not sure why that passage is so precisely my response to this situation. In part, because if Abraham and Sarah had taken on this mindset that Paul is talking about, they might have faced perplexing decisions, but not ones causing despair. They forgot at times–as we all do–that our bodies are earthen vessels. If we fall of the table, we’re gonna bust. There’s just no way around it. We might land a little better or a little worse–Abraham might have made a more or less wise decision here–but (unless God intervenes, which I think he generally doesn’t at that point) we’re gonna break into pieces.

Yahweh makes beautiful things out of shards of pottery. But he didn’t say we had to have all that pain.

He steps in here and tells Abraham to go ahead and send off Hagar and Ishmael. Ishmael was not going to be the heir to all the promises God had given Abraham, but that had already been established. But, also, God has plans of wonderful blessing for Ishmael. He is going to be the heir to a promise, but a different one from Isaac. There really ought to have been no solution to this, but God, even though it’s come about because of sinful attitudes, makes a way. For one thing, he’s not going to punish Ishmael for the sins of his parents (and psuedo-parents). More generally, he’s got a beautiful plan.

Genesis 22:2

2007.Dec.18 03:32

Your Only Son

Read Genesis 22:2 Full Chapter

He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” (Genesis 22:2, NASB)

According to Wikipedia, some Islamic traditions hold that it was Ishmael, not Isaac, that God asked Abraham to sacrifice. I mention this because Yahweh specifically calls Abraham to sacrifice his “only son”. Assuming this chapter is chronologically placed (which seems likely, since the son named is Isaac), Abraham has two sons at this point. This could be a translation issue, but every translation I checked has the “only son” language.

There are a couple of important points about the only son business as illustrative of God’s plan. It is perhaps cliche, but quite relevant, to remember that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16, NASB), and that Yahweh, in addition to testing Abraham’s faith, may also have been giving the Israelites a reference story for better understanding Christ’s sacrifice later on. In that illustration, making a point of the only child (or, in these cases, son specifically) being sacrificed is relevant, even if not technically accurate.

Second, Yahweh’s intent was for Abraham to have only one son at this time. I suppose it may be that God permitted Abraham and Sarah to send away Hagar and Ishmael particularly to regain this intent. A more interesting possibility to me though is that Abraham had already–from Abraham’s point of view–had to sacrifice one son. Now, he has to sacrifice the second. So, maybe I should ponder the reflection of this story not only in the Messiah but also in humanity’s original murder. In that situation, Eve and Adam lost one of their two sons when Cain murdered Abel, and then lost Cain as well. “Sin pays off with death,” Paul reminds us (Romans 6:23, CEV). One aspect of death is separation. At this point, Ishmael was dead to Abraham as Cain was dead to Adam; they were separated indefinitely, and that separation directly followed sin.

Jumping to another point sans segue, God is aware of the sacrifice, in both the cases of Ishmael and Isaac. Sarah’s reaction to the anticipated sacrifice of Isaac–if she even knew–is not recorded, so I am focusing of Abraham’s reactions. When Sarah asked Abraham to send away Hagar and Ishmael, “The matter distressed [him] greatly” (Genesis 21:11, NASB). This should have been just as distressing, and Yahweh is aware of this reality. He knows that Isaac is now in many ways Abraham’s only child, and he acknowledges Abraham’s love of his son. God, in regards to both of Abraham’s sons is not unaware of what he is asking.