The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 16:5,
"Then Sarai said to Abram, 'You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.'"
What a hoot!
I suspect there is much more to this story than what is provided us here in Genesis, but what we do have can be richly enjoyed by those of us who have experienced marital bliss.
The chapter begins with the start of this story, "Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, 'The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.'" Verses 1-2
Before we all raise our eyebrows here, what we are reading is simply what was consistent with the culture and ways of the day. Polygamy, as well as slavery, was practiced and wives could certainly offer up their servants to their husbands when needed.
However, and probably not surprising how some things in a cultural setting are bound to go south (as they certainly do in our day!), we read, "Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, 'You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.'" Verses 3-5.
Somehow or other it is all Abram's fault! It was Sarai's idea and her initiative, and Abram gets all the credit for it! "May the Lord judge between you and me."
We don't know if Abram saw this turn of events coming, but we today have the benefit of the Scriptures and know that God was going to fulfill his promise to Abram to make a nation of him as numerous as the stars in the sky, Genesis 15:4-5. Sarai would eventually get pregnant herself in her old age and give birth to Isaac. There was no need for Sarai to offer her slave to Abram. I read it as a momentary lapse of faith (something we all probably experience from time to time) from this otherwise giant of faith (proving, once again, faith does not make us perfect, but it does bring us salvation!).
"Then Sarai said to Abram, 'You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.'"
What a hoot!
I suspect there is much more to this story than what is provided us here in Genesis, but what we do have can be richly enjoyed by those of us who have experienced marital bliss.
The chapter begins with the start of this story, "Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, 'The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.'" Verses 1-2
Before we all raise our eyebrows here, what we are reading is simply what was consistent with the culture and ways of the day. Polygamy, as well as slavery, was practiced and wives could certainly offer up their servants to their husbands when needed.
However, and probably not surprising how some things in a cultural setting are bound to go south (as they certainly do in our day!), we read, "Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, 'You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.'" Verses 3-5.
Somehow or other it is all Abram's fault! It was Sarai's idea and her initiative, and Abram gets all the credit for it! "May the Lord judge between you and me."
We don't know if Abram saw this turn of events coming, but we today have the benefit of the Scriptures and know that God was going to fulfill his promise to Abram to make a nation of him as numerous as the stars in the sky, Genesis 15:4-5. Sarai would eventually get pregnant herself in her old age and give birth to Isaac. There was no need for Sarai to offer her slave to Abram. I read it as a momentary lapse of faith (something we all probably experience from time to time) from this otherwise giant of faith (proving, once again, faith does not make us perfect, but it does bring us salvation!).
Although it may not have been his best choice in life to go along with Sarai's suggestion, his response points the way for all the rest of us husbands in his wise response, "'Your slave is in your hands,' Abram said. 'Do with her whatever you think best.'" As I read it, a kind of "Yes dear..." with head hanging sort of response.
No good deed goes unpunished!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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