What about Hagar?
I have to say that in reading the section of where Abraham turns Hagar out with Ishmael, I felt rather upset at him mistreating her in that way and then sending her off. It seems quite unfair to Hagar to first have to sleep with some guy and then be mistreated by his wife who suggested it in the first place (Genesis 16) and then be turned out just because there was another child born. And the Lord was not only allowing this but He told Abraham to turn Hagar out!
Does anyone have any thoughts on reconciling this?
A few initial thoughts are . . . The Lord does seem to take care of the mistreated. He goes to Hagar in Gen. 16 and in Gen. 21 to help her and promises to make her into a great nation. But, as we will see, that nation is often at war with Israel and does not follow Yahweh. It almost seems like she is set up for failure.
Any thoughts?
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on November 8th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Good questions!
I think this is a case of God allowing the consequences of bad decisions to play out. Abraham got himself caught up in polygamy, and the wives couldn’t share the wife role equally. It seems the bitterness of the rivalry got to a point where it became dangerous for both wives and sons to remain.
I think it is unfair that Hagar had to pay the price for Abraham’s mistakes, but that is the way this corrupt world works. We hurt other people when we sin. Thankfully God listened to Hagar’s misery and did rescue her.