Genesis 16:1-18:15
Matthew 6:1-24
Psalm 7:1-17
Proverbs 2:1-5
Question of the Day: Who was Hagar and where was she going when she headed out into the wilderness?
Hagar was an Egyptian servant, who probably became Abram and Sarai's property during their time in Egypt. Egyptian culture was much more advanced than others during that time, so going with Abram and Sarai would have been a big step down for Hagar. After she became pregnant, she would have welcomed the respect that was now being given to her for carrying Abram's child.
After Sarai mistreated Hagar, Hagar fled into the desert. She was no doubt trying to return to Egypt. To road to Shur leads to Egypt, which would have been a trip of some two hundred miles to the well that was called Beer Lahai Roi from Abram's likely home in Hebron. Only after the angel appeared to her and assured her of her son's future was she willing to return to Abram.
What questions do you have?
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When you read the story of Ishmael and listen to the prophecy of God conerning Ishmael, does it sound like the conflict between Islam (at least the radical element) of today and the rest of the world?
ReplyDelete“You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.”
We are still fighting the effects of Abram's and Sarai's ill advised decision. Isn't it interesting how Sarai's 'solution' was so quickly accepted by Abram. It is also amusing that the consequences of Sarai's 'solution' (the taunting by Hagar) suddenly become Abram's fault. Now, Abram was no less culpable but it was not his idea.
How often do we become impatient with God's timing and plans and then decide on our own course of action. Then when the consequences erupt and life becomes really messy we look to blame anyone else but ourselves. What is equally sad is how often our choices have such far reaching and long term consequences. The choices we make are never in a vacuum.