Thursday 15 November 2012

Background

Over a period of ten years we learn more about the relationshipin Abram's household. Archaeological evidence of the customs of thetime indicate that in some marriage contracts a childless wife wasrequired to find a substitute for her husband as childlessness wasconsidered to be one of the greatest of life's tragedies. Thecustom also provided for the future life of the slave and her childin that they could not be sent away. Sarai, Abram's wife, sentHagar her servant to Abram (verse 3). Once Hagar is pregnant we aretold that she looks with contempt on Sarai (verse 4). Sarai thetreats her harshly and Hagar runs away (verses 5-6).

Hagar is one of the oppressed and the story takes a new turnwhen Hagar is met by an angel, a messenger from God, who tells herto return to Sarai and submit to her (verses 7-9). But she is alsoencouraged to hear that from her child will come many offspring(verses 10-12). He will be called Ishmael and will be known as a'bit of a rebel', we would probably say.

With Ishmael's birth it could be said that God has not committedhimself exclusively to Abram and Sarai; God's concern is notconfined to the elect line. There is passion and concern for thosewho are the alien and the foreigner.

We have just one sentence that describes Hagar's response toGod. In verse 13 she names God and wonders how she can be stillalive. The translation of El-roi is commonly "the God who sees'.YHWH has 'seen' to Hagar (ie provided for her ) as well as beingthe object of her sight.

Here we see all the tensions of family life as people try tomake sense of their situation. We can empathise with each person indifferent ways: Abram seems a eager to hand over the decision toSarai; Sarai has to find a way of dealing with her childlessness;Hagar is both a slave and a mother to be.

To Ponder

• Which character are you most able to empathise with andwhy?

• Spend a few minutes thinking about the names of God that youknow. What are the most helpful ones to you at the moment?

• Who would you describe as the 'alien' and the 'foreigner'today? How do you react to knowing of God's passion and commitmentto them and for them?