The Faith and Promise of Hagar - Genesis 16

 

At the beginning of Genesis 16, Sarai who is still barren, takes matters into her own hands and gives to Abram her Egyptian slave-girl, Hagar.  Abram dutifully obeys his wife and takes Hagar as a concubine, and before long, she becomes pregnant.  Though holding a much lower status than Sarai, Hagar is none too proud of the fact that she and not her mistress is fertile.  Sarai takes exception to Hagar's contempt and then blames Abram for the whole situation.  Abram takes a step back and reminds Sarai that Hagar is her slave and that she's free to do with her as she pleases.  Sarai takes her anger and frustration out on the Egyptian woman and not surprisingly, Hagar runs away from her mistress.  She would rather take her chances out in the wild, then continue to be abused by Sarai.

Out in the wilderness, the young woman stumbles across a spring where she encounters the angel of YHWH.  The angel asks her where's she's come from and where's she's going.  She explains the situation, and then the angel instructs her to return to Sarai.  As bad as things may be with her mistress, Hagar is far more likely to experience death and destruction alone in the desert, than she might with Abram and Sarai.  But before she returns to the first family of faith, she receives promises from YHWH.  She too will be the matriarch of many peoples and large nations.  The child in her womb is to be called Ishmael and this baby will grow up to be a "wild ass of a man" - actually a complement, not a derision.  Hagar does not know YHWH, but she calls him the "God who sees me, or the God whom she has seen."  She may not fully understand the identity of this God, but for the moment she places her trust in him, and obeying the angel, she returns to Sarai.  She eventually gives birth and Abram names his first son, Ishmael.

Culture and Customs 

Like any other historical document, we should seek to understand the Biblical narrative in its historical context.  Abram and Sarai lived in a world where slavery was commonplace.  Now, to be sure, the slavery that existed in the Near East 4,000 years ago is not exactly the same kind of slavery that existed in the American colonies and the United States from the 1600s until 1865.  However, let's be clear - slavery is never a good thing.  Slavery was so common in the Near East and the Mediterranean, that ancient readers of these texts would not have blinked an eye when slavery was mentioned.  Sometimes God's people enslaved others and sometimes they were enslaved by others.

What do we make of this?  First, we acknowledge that it is human sin and brokenness that leads to things like slavery.  But secondly, we must also acknowledge that slavery in some form has been ubiquitous throughout almost all of human history and in almost every location.  God does not swoop down and miraculously end every human institution that transgresses his will.  He has given humanity freedom - both freedom for good and freedom for evil.  And so, if God is going to work through humanity - which is his chosen instrument - then he must work through human frailty and sin.  He finds and works in and through us as we are, not as he would have us to be.  And if we look at our own lives, we realize that God's work, though noticeable, takes an awful long time to mature.  There are no quick fixes.  And yet, God continues to work through us.

So, back to the story of Hagar, Sarai, and Abram.  Due to human sin and brokenness, there is a power dynamic at work and it is clear who has the power and who does not.  Sarai, as Hagar's mistress is in a position of power.  Hagar is powerless to resist Abram.  She has no choice in this matter. Though, not necessarily commonplace, it was not unheard of for an infertile woman to offer her husband a "surrogate" option in the ancient Near East.  The text does not tell us Hagar's feelings once she has become Abram's concubine.  It would be pure speculation to guess.  But, it isn't unreasonable to think that she may not be 100% thrilled.  Either way, she does become pregnant and one cannot fault her for rubbing Sarai's nose in this.  She may not have much power, but she has something that at this point Sarai is unable to attain.  And though she is not favored by her mistress, she is still favored by God.

God's Concern for the Outsider 

The reader of the Bible will discover over and over again that God has a real concern for the outsider.  There are groups who emphasize God's election of his people at the expense of everyone else.  But a close reading of the narrative does not allow for this.  In God's Kingdom, there are no outsiders except for those who choose to remain outside.

Notice in this story how God not only provides life giving water for Hagar, but also directs this young, vulnerable woman to return to Abram and Sarai.  This undoubtedly saves her life and her pregnancy.  It also provides a solid platform for her son to be raised in a better environment than he might otherwise have been exposed to if Hagar had somehow survived the desert conditions, avoided wild animals, and outwitted any potential bandits along the way.  YHWH promises to bless Ishmael and to establish many nations from his descendants, so God does not save Hagar, simply to save her, rather he saves her so that both she and her son might be a blessing to others in the future.

Seeking to Orchestrate Promise Fulfillment and Blessing

It may seem that I am being overly harsh with Abram and especially Sarai at this point.  Let me be clear - I do not think that either of these figures does anything that might be drastically different than most any other human beings would have done in their circumstances.  But, that's why a life of radical faith can be so difficult.  Had they chosen the less common, though much bolder choice of waiting on God and choosing to honor those with less power than themselves, the outcome would have been undoubtedly been better.  Since God is the God who even raises the dead, the birth of Ismael could have come about in some other way.  

Even after the impregnation of Hagar, both Sarai and Abram could and should have treated her and her unborn son with more dignity, care, and respect.  The whole situation results from Sarai and Abram seeking to engineer God's blessings on their own terms.  Because God is seemingly slow in keeping his promise, they take matters into their own hands.  

As I point the finger at these faithful, and yet at sometimes faithless individuals, I recognize that there are three fingers pointed directly back at me.  How often have I failed to wait on the Lord?  How often have I trusted my own ingenuity over God's faithfulness?  How often have I simply been unfaithful, despite God's promise keeping?  How about you? - Shay    

A Covenant of Trust - Genesis 15

The gospel of Mark claims that the enemy of faith is fear, not doubt.  So it is interesting that when YHWH speaks to Abram in a vision at the beginning of Genesis 15, his first words to this patriarch are not, "do not doubt", but rather, "do not fear."  He goes onto promise Abram his protection and that his reward shall be very great.

But we can't fault Abram for a level of fear, or doubt in response.  How will the promises of God come true to this old man, when he and his post-menopausal wife are still childless?  Abram doubles down by reminding God that at this point in his story, Abram will be leaving his wealth to a slave in his household, rather than a son.  

But God's not done yet - in Abram's story, nor in this visionary exchange.  God takes Abram outside and asks the elderly gentleman to take a look at the night sky.  In our modern world filled with light pollution, we can't imagine what that sight must have been.  God dares Abram to count the stars and if he is able to do so, then his future descendants might also be numbered.  Essentially, YHWH reminds Abram that he is in fact the creator of the night sky - the moon, the stars - and if he is the God behind the creation of the universe, then is it too much to ask him to provide a son to this geriatric couple?  Abram believes the Lord after this second affirmation and the Lord considers Abram's trust to be righteousness.  But what is righteousness exactly?  The best definition I've ever heard is that it is being in a right relationship with God and a right relationship with others.  So, by trusting YHWH, Abram is on a path to a deep and satisfying relationship with the creator of the cosmos and with those whom this God might place in his path.  

Covenant 

Though Abram believes and trusts God, he still needs a little bit more in the area of assurance.  So God has him cut several animals in half, and after sunset, Abram falls into a deep sleep where he receives further promises for the future.  He will indeed have many offspring, but those descendants will become slaves and will suffer oppression for four centuries in a foreign land, before coming back to Canaan and receiving their inheritance.  After these words of prophesy, Abram witnesses a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the animals.  This seems to be an ancient covenant rite (see Jeremiah 34:18-19).  God has bound himself to Abram and Sarai and to the promises made to this patriarchal couple.  

So What?!!!

From the very beginning of the Biblical narrative, the biggest enemy of faith has been fear.  In fact, in the earlier stories about Abram, it was his fear that often led to his faithlessness.  How will Abram's natural fear be overcome?  By gradually learning to trust God more.  And the more that Abram discovers that God is fact trustworthy, the more trust Abram will place in this God and the less he will be overcome by his fears.

And one of the ways that YHWH builds that trust with Abram is through daring Abram to believe.  The God who can do even more than we can ask or imagine challenges Abram to ask for more than he can grasp and to imagine the impossible.  As we will discover in Abram's and Sarai's stories, God will not fall short in his ability to deliver.

But, this does not mean that Abram will receive his reward immediately.  He and Sarai will be forced to wait and wait and wait.  Not only will Abram and Sarai have to wait for the birth of their own son, even their descendants will have to wait and wait and wait to receive their inheritance - they will have to wait for over 400 years.  The ancients could measure things in centuries, while we have a hard time measuring things in minutes.  We live in a world of instant gratification and we have probably all grown increasingly impatient.  But the story of this faithful, though imperfect family reminds us that the best things come to those who are willing to wait.  

Where are you at in Abram's and Sarai's story?  In other words, where do you identify with these founders of our faith?  Where might their story challenge you to place more faith in our God?  What fears might a deeper trust in YHWH alleviate for you?  There is more of their story to come and there's more in yours and my story to be developed too. - Shay  

Blessed to be a Blessing - Genesis 14

Genesis 14:1-16 tells the tale of Abram intervening in a war between various kings in the Jordan Valley area.  Most kings at this point in history were rulers of small city states.  They weren't as powerful as the European kings of the Middle Ages, and they were nothing in comparison to the emperors who controlled vast regions across the ancient near east and the Mediterranean in the later Biblical narratives.  Historically, we know nothing of the specific kings mentioned in Genesis 14.  They probably existed, but were of so little significance, they're not even a footnote in history.

What's important as it relates to the Abram story is that his nephew Lot is taken captive, and so, like the good uncle that he is, Abram rallies three hundred plus men in his household to go and rescue Lot and his family.  Abram successfully routs his enemies and brings back Lot, several other captive men, women, and children, as well many valuable goods.  Verses 1-16 of this text are interesting, but  verses 17-24 hold even more intrigue.  

The Mysterious Melchizedek 

Though we have further information about Melchizedek in the Biblical corpus (Psalm 110 & Hebrews 5), there isn't much further details to be found about this mysterious character outside of the Bible.  And for the sake of understanding Genesis 14 in its original context, we must camp out here first, before allowing Psalm 110 or Hebrews 5 to influence what Genesis has to say about this shadowy figure.  

After rescuing Lot, Abram heads back to his residence in the southern part of the promised land, and along the way, he's met by the king of Sodom in a valley near what later became Jerusalem.  At this time it is known as Salem.  Abram and the king of Sodom are joined by the king of Salem, who is none other than Melchizedek.  He is not only a king, but also a priest of God Most High.  Here we need to pause for a moment.  Historically speaking, Melchizedek is a Canaanite and he would have worshiped a host of deities, just like the rest of the Canaanites living in the land.  God Most High (El El-Yon in Hebrew) is simply the chief god amongst many gods within the Canaanite pantheon.  Melchizedek is no monotheist, and he neither knows, nor worships YHWH, the God of the Israelites, and later the Jews.  However, much like Paul's attempt to point the Athenians to the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, through the statue to an "unknown god" (Acts 17), so in the Genesis narrative, Melchizedek's limited understanding of God Most High, points to a hidden reality that neither he, nor even Abram fully understand at this point in time, namely that YHWH is the true maker of heaven and earth.  In other words, though Melchizedek doesn't know it, who he worships as God Most High, the highest of many deities in his mind, is in fact, YHWH, the one and only God and the creator of all that is.  

Melchizedek blesses Abram in the name of God Most High and gives this God the credit for delivering Abram from his enemies.  The king of Salem, the king of Sodom, and Abram share bread and wine together, and Abram then gives one tenth of the spoils of battle to Melchizedek as a thanksgiving offering.  

Okay, so now back to Psalm 110 and Hebrews 5.  In Psalm 110, in what became a "Messianic Psalm" for the people of Israel, the figure of Melchizedek is used as an example of a king who is also a priest (someone who performs a mediatory role between the people and God).  Essentially, according to the Psalmist, the Davidic king will not only rule his people and win battles on their behalf, but like Melchizedek, will also act as a go-between for God's people and YHWH himself.  The writer of Hebrews later uses Psalm 110 to demonstrate how Jesus is the ultimate High Priest, as well as King, even though he was not descended from Aaron and was not a part of the priestly caste.  

A Few Takeaways 

1. It is easy for us to forget that our understanding of God 2,000 years on the other side of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is very different than anyone who lived 4,000 years ago.  We forget that Abram and Sarai were not monotheists as we understand monotheism today.  See Joshua 24:2.  Did they come to discover that God Most High (YWHW) was in fact the only true God?  Or did they know him as their own personal God, but not necessarily the only god?  Did they simply see him as the highest and most powerful of all other gods?  The text is unclear, but it is safe to say that based on the rest of the Old Testament, God's people continued to struggle with undivided devotion to him.  Sarai and Abram were not different.  Of course, we sometimes struggle with idolatry as well.  Our false gods just go by different names.    

2.  In Genesis 14, Abram is blessed by Melchizedek.  God's promise of blessing to Abram continues to come to fruition in a variety of circumstances and through a plethora of different people.  And Abram is also becoming a blessing to others in return.  He blesses Lot and others by rescuing them.  

3. Both of these takeaways apply to us too. God works in our lives and blesses us despite our limited understanding of him and our ignorance of his providential ways.  But God doesn't bless us just for ourselves.  He blesses us in order that we too would be a blessing for others as well.  As it was for Melchizedek and Abram, so may it be for us! - Shay 

Abram's Faith Begins to Grow (at least a little) - Genesis Thirteen

 

The last we saw of Abram, he had narrowly escaped Egypt with his own life and his own wife intact.  Now, in chapter 13 of Genesis, he journeys back to the spot between Bethel and Ai, where he had previously made a sacrifice to God and called on his name.  Though his time in Egypt was tenuous, Abram has come out of the ordeal better off than when he entered it.  Pharaoh (with YHWH's nudging) has made Abram a very wealthy man indeed.  

His nephew, Lot, has also accumulated a great deal a wealth and is still hanging out with his uncle.  But there's a problem.  The land of Canaan might have been known as a land flowing with milk and honey to later generations, but there is only so much grazable land and water, and eventually things come to a head between the herders of Abram's livestock and the herders of Lot's animals.  Not to mention, you still have the native inhabitants occupying the territory.  There's only so much the land can produce.  What should be done.

The logical thing would be for Abram to give Lot his marching orders.  It might go something like this: "Okay little nephew - I've babysat you long enough.  Don't you think its time for you to strike out on your own and provide for yourself in this world?  God has promised me this land, so you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!"  

But that's not what Abram does.  Instead of dictating to Lot what he must do, Abram instead offers Lot a choice.  He honors Lot by offering him the opportunity to choose where he would like to live.  Being the older member of the family, he could have easily sent Lot on his way, and Lot would have probably accepted this decision without objection.  But in this moment, Abram is not only magnanimous in his treatment of his nephew, he takes a step back and trusts YHWH to eventually fulfill his earlier promises.  Abram's in control, but he's not a control freak.  In this moment, he is ever-so-gradually letting go of the reigns and allowing God to take control.

And that is essentially what faith is all about.  It is trust.  Faith is, to harness a cliche, the ability to let go and to let God!  In the previous blog post we discovered that though Abram had a strong initial faith to answer God's call, his faith was immature and naive.  When confronted with a couple of tests, he not only failed, he failed miserably.  In Genesis 13, Abram's faith has grown, at least a little.  He is willing to trust in YHWH's promises, even if at first glance it might seem that he is in danger of being usurped by his younger upstart nephew.  

Lot chooses to take his flocks to the east, down into the Jordan River Valley amongst the depraved cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  We will discover what a poor choice this is later in the narrative, but for now the reader is left with a sigh of relief as Abram settles in the land of Canaan, instead of near the cities of the plain.  

And as we have seen in Abram's and Sarai's stories, and as we will continue to see throughout the entire narrative of scripture, it is God's faithfulness that stands out.  YHWH invites Abram to dream about the future.  He tells him to lift up his eyes and look north, south, east, and west.  He dares him to imagine that one day, all the land that he can see will be his and will be the possession of his offspring.  At this point, Abram doesn't own even a clod of dirt in this promised land and he doesn't have a single child, much less numerous descendants.  But God challenges Abram to walk the length and breadth of the land, trusting that it will one day be his.  God outrageously claims that if anyone can count the dust of the earth - so numerous will Abram's progeny be.  These are bold promises and it takes a bold man like Abram to believe them.  Abram responds to God's invitation and begins to put down slightly more permanent roots in the land.  And he again builds an altar to the Lord.

But, tempting as it may be to assume Abram and Sarai have arrived, in many ways their story with God is just beginning.  There are still further tests to come and quite a few more roadblocks and failures along the way.  Much like our lives, Abram's journey isn't linear.  It's full of stops and starts, ups and downs, victories, and failures.  Though he will continue to grow in his faith, he will also stumble and fall along the way.  Sound familiar? - Shay