..To Ancient SDA's ............ To "What's New?"
by
Ron Parsons
The aim of this series:
“Then He said to them, ‘O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:25-27.
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Internet: http://NonConformist.MyChurch.com
Genesis 16:
Hagar and Ishmael
We are still learning from Abram’s and Sarai’s mistakes (I hope).
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Genesis 16:
1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar
[stranger]. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing: I pray you, go in to my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her.” And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.*************** (End quote)
What appears to us to be morally wrong, was acceptable practise in those days. Polygamy and surrogate mothers were often used as a means of continuing the family line. Abraham had accepted without question the promise of a son, but he didn’t wait for God to fulfil His word in His own time and way. A delay was permitted, to test his faith in the power of God; but he failed to endure the trial. Thinking it impossible that a child should be given her in her old age, Sarah suggested, as a plan by which the divine purpose might be fulfilled, that one of her handmaidens should be taken by Abraham as a secondary wife, and he accepted the idea. Polygamy had become so widespread that it had ceased to be regarded as a sin, but it was no less a violation of the law of God, and was fatal to the sacredness and peace of the family relation. Abraham's marriage with Hagar resulted in great sorrow, not only to his own household, but also to future generations.
What concerns me is that she was an Egyptian, a person of the “world” and not a believer. Sarai was suggesting that any mother would do for God’s promised child!
[As further understanding has come to light since the above was written, I now believe that Hagar was a “bondwoman”, which means that she was a voluntary maid, not paid wages but supplied with protection and keep. She was not a slave as we think of that state. Genesis 21:12. She was told by the Son of God to return to her employment and He would not have said that if it was against her will. (See Deuteronomy 23:15-16.) He even reminded her of her position as a maid. Genesis 16:8-9. The fact that He was able to guide her also suggests that she was a follower, one of the ones converted by Abram and Sarai while in Haran.
The following quote shows this very clearly:
“And this was the case with Hagar. A superficial reading of the Bible often causes Sarai to be most unjustly blamed for undue harshness. We think only of Hagar’s wanderings in the wilderness, and pity her as cruelly treated, and suppose, that as the Most High relieved her through His angel, she had never been in any way to blame.”
“Now, though to sympathize with the sorrowing and afflicted be one of our purest and best feelings, it must not so blind us as to prevent our doing justice to the inflictor of that affliction. We candidly avow, that until lately we, too, thought Sarai harsh and unjust, and rather turned from than admired her character. But we have seen the injustice of this decision, and, therefore, without the smallest remaining prejudice, retract it altogether. Retract it, simply because the words of the angel are quite sufficient proof that Hagar had been wrong, and Sarai’s chastisement just, or he would not have commanded her, as Sarai’s bondwoman, to return and submit herself to her mistress’s power, without any reservation whatever.”
The Women of Israel”, page 53, by Grace Aguilar c. 1927.]
Abram probably had an admiration for Hagar for he didn’t find it hard to accept Sarai’s offer. Hagar represents the Jewish church in bondage to the ceremonial law (and many “love” the church as well as God); while “Sarai” represents the Christian church, which is free, but I don’t intend to go into that right now. Galatians 4:24.
Abram also goes along with the idea because he wants to help God out. Hadn’t the LORD promised him a son? Well, he would do his best to fulfil God’s word! This is still a common practise among us today. And, sad to say, it is often taught as “Christian” behaviour. We should do the best we can, and God will make up the rest (or words to that effect).
The real truth is that WHEN God has told us WHAT TO DO, then we should attempt to do that (and no more) and rely on Him to supply the power to fulfil His own word. This is how Abraham received his true son, Isaac.
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Genesis 16:
3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife
[that makes him about 85 years old].*************** (End quote)
Abram knew of the result of the intermarriages of those who feared God and those who feared Him not, from the days of Cain to his own time. They became “mighty men” against God. Genesis 6:4. Yet he went ahead and married Hagar, for it was a recognised civil arrangement.
The lack of faith on the part of Abram and Sarai resulted in the birth of Ishmael, the mingling of the righteous seed with the ungodly. They little realised the extent of what they had done, but the fighting in the Middle East today between Israeli and Palestinian is a direct result of their mistake. The father's influence upon his son was counteracted by that of the mother's idolatrous kindred, and by Ishmael's later connection with heathen wives which produced a hybrid which is still with us, and which is known to us the Arab world! They say that they worship Abraham’s God, but have another day on which they show it (Friday).
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Genesis 16:
4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you: I have given my maid into your bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and you.”
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An interesting statement here: “My wrong be upon you”. Sarai here anticipates God’s thoughts regarding wives. He says:-
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Numbers 30:
6 And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; 7 and her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.
8 But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.
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Hagar became proud and boastful, and flaunted herself before Sarai. She flattered herself that she was to be the mother of the great nation God had promised to make of Abram. He was compelled to listen to complaints from Sarai in regard to the conduct of Hagar, charging him with wrong in the matter, and was naturally upset. He told Sarai that Hagar was still her servant, and that she had the control of her, but refused to do anything else, for she was the mother of his child through whom he thought the promise was to be fulfilled.
He doubtless reminded Sarai that he wouldn’t have taken Hagar for his wife if it had not been her special request.
Abram was also compelled to listen to Hagar's complaints of abuse from Sarai. And this placed him in an awkward position. If he attempted to redress the wrongs of Hagar, he would increase the jealousy and unhappiness of Sarai, his first and much-loved wife. If he listened to Sarai he would lose his son.
What would you have done?
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Genesis 16:
6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand; do to her as it pleases you.” And when Sarai dealt
[so] hardly with her, she fled from her face.*************** (End quote)
It all proved too much for Hagar and so she ran away. Even Elijah did the same! 1 Kings 19:3.
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Genesis 16:
7 And the Angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai's maid
[reminding her of her position], where have you come from? And where will you go?” And she said, “I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.”9 And the Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.”
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God gives us no warranty to leave our place of duty without permission. To leave as Hagar had was rebellion and this is a sin. 1 Samuel 15:23. Unilateral action is always wrong in God’s kingdom, we should always do only what He tells us to do. Hagar had boasted that she was the mother of God’s promised child and she must now live that position, and yet be a servant to Sarai.
But she would not go unrewarded for her faith.
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Genesis 16:
10 And the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will multiply your seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.”
11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael
[God shall hear]; because the LORD has heard your affliction. 12 And [yet] he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren [for ever].”*************** (End quote)
This helps us to understand the conflict which rages in Israel today. Ishmael was to “dwell in the presence of all his brethren” and cause them much anguish. This was NOT God’s plan, but a RESULT of Abram and Sarai’s behaviour. And it will NEVER cease, for Ishmael’s character has been handed down from generation to generation.
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Genesis 16:
13 And she called the name of the LORD that spoke to her, “You God see me”
[You are the God who sees]: for she said, “Have I also here looked after Him that sees me?” [With these words she repented of her flight and returned to her place as an obedient servant of God] 14 Wherefore for this reason the well was called Beerlahairoi [the well of Him that lives (is a living Saviour) and sees (or knows) me]; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael
[for he too listened to God in this matter]. 16 And Abram was eighty-six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.*************** (End quote)
So that’s how Abram became the father of the Arabs who one day started a new religion called Islam. (You can read about them in Revelation chapters 8 and 9.)
The father's influence upon his son was counteracted by that of the mother's idolatrous kindred and by Ishmael's later connection with heathen wives. The jealousy of Hagar, and of the wives whom she chose for Ishmael, surrounded his family with a barrier that Abraham endeavoured in vain to overcome.
Abraham's early teachings had not been without effect upon Ishmael (he was about 13 when he was sent from home), but the influence of his wives resulted in establishing idolatry in his family. Separated from his father, and embittered by the strife and contention of a home destitute of the love and fear of God, Ishmael was driven to choose the wild, marauding life of the desert chief, “his hand” “against every man, and every man's hand against him.”
In his latter days he repented of his evil ways and returned to his father's God, but the stamp of character given to his posterity remained. The powerful nation descended from him are a turbulent, heathen people, who are ever an annoyance and affliction to the descendants of Isaac. Genesis 25:8-9.
Bye for now,
Ron
Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library. No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.
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22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which genders to bondage, which is Hagar. 25 For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren that bears not; break forth and cry, you that travails not: for the desolate has many more children than she which has a husband.” Back
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4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons [followers] of God came in to the daughters of men [women of the world], and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown [rebellion]. 5 And [as a result of this] God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Back
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1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time [a death decree].” 3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. Back
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22 And Samuel said [to king Saul], “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion [disobedience] is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king." Back
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8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. 9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre. Back
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15 You shall not deliver to his master the servant which is escaped from his master to you. 16 He shall dwell with you, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of your gates, where it likes him best: you shall not oppress him [but rather help him or her]. Back
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Genesis 16:
7 And the Angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai's maid, where came you? and where will you go?” And she said, “I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.”
9 And the Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.” Back
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