Read Genesis 16 ... then come back.
Sarai seems to be the one to crumble first - the one to first decide that God's promises will not come about unless they step in and fix something. Rather like a woman, don't you think? We do like to fix situations. Are you trying to fix something right now that God has indicated for you to "wait"? Be wise. Her solution is staggering to our ears ... but not uncommon in her time and culture. Hagar "belonged" to her ... therefore, a child from Hagar would also "belong" to her. And Sarai's plan is conceived.
I wonder if she would have been as willing to place her husband in another woman's arms had Abram not already been willing to place her in another man's arms? Remember the whole scene in Egypt (chapter 12)?Ignoring God has long, far-reaching tentacles.
You have just read the details of these events. There are random things running through my mind about this chapter ...
First, I am amazed at the passivity of Abram. Where is our strong man of God? Is he too busy with his business to pay any attention? Does he really have no opinion in the matter? It seems to me that he just "goes with the flow" throughout this entire episode. But as I find myself frustrated with him, I am silenced by the realization that wives carry such powerful influence over their husbands. Dear reader, if you are married, don't let that thought leave you quickly. We wield strong influence. The NRSV translates verse 2 as "so Abram listened to the voice of Sarai". I am remind of Genesis 3 when another man, Adam, listened to the voice of his wife. Be careful here ... I am not saying that women, wives in particular, should not have a voice - that they should take, or stay in, a passive position! I am saying that we must be aware how powerful our voices can be! God give us wisdom as we open our mouths ... may we not speak quickly without prayer and forethought. May our silences be out of restraint and wisdom - not out of sullenness and passive anger.
Anytime we stop trusting God and choose to go our own way ... trouble will come. One of the interesting results is always blaming God or other people for our messes. Sarai is right on track! She blames God first for the fact that she has no children. (verse 2) Then, when she cannot tolerate the fact that Hagar is pregnant, she blames Abram for the whole mess. (verse 5) Wow. Everyone is to blame except poor Sarai! Ever been there? The powerful Twelve Step program found in Alcoholic Anonymous includes these: Step 4 - "Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves." Step 5 - "Admit to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." Lessons for us? Stop blaming others - family, friends, God. Take responsibility for the messes in our own lives. Examine the part you play (the part I ply) and be honest. Take it to prayer. God, give me eyes to see ... give me courage to admit ... give me strength to move forward in a different direction. Let's don't imitate Sarai in this way any longer!
Lastly, I love the name Hagar gave God ... Beer-lahai-roi ... "the God who sees". Listen to James Boice:
"Are you aware that God sees you? Right where you are? He does. He sees you as you are and where you are. He sees where you have come from and where you are going. He sees what you need and what you do not need. Above all, He sees what He wants to make of you and how that final, glorious product is to be achieved. You cannot see it. But it is precisely for that reason that you must lay your own wisdom aside and return to the path God has give you to walk in. Hagar did this; and, from the final verses of the passage, I suspect that she returned a changed woman."God sees you ... God sees me ... today ... right now ... My God, may You be honored by what You see!
You wrote:
ReplyDelete"I wonder if she would have been as willing to place her husband in another woman's arms had Abram not already been willing to place her in another man's arms?"
This does give me a new perspective. In Egypt God protected Sarah from having a child with royalty, with Pharaoh (and wouldn't that have been a real mess?). Why would she now think it's perfectly fine for Abraham to have a child with her slave-woman? God keeps emphasizing that the child of promise will be a child that they have together, with each other.
He can do this without their "help," even though both of them are old. Why don't they get it? Why don't we? I need this reminder frequently, so I have Luke 1:45 printed on an index card on my bathroom wall, where I will see it every morning:
"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"