Pastor Chris kicks off a new series called "Tell Her Story." Over the next several weeks we will be focusing on women in the Bible and their stories of faith and leadership. Today, Pastor Chris recounts the story of Hagar, Sarah & Abraham and invites us to reimagine how we balance the humanity of these figures of our faith.
Scripture & References
Genesis 16:1-8
1 Despite God's promise, years went by. Still Abram wife Sarai remained childless. But she did have an Egyptian servant girl whose name was Hagar. Sarai had an idea so she approached her husband.
Sarai (to Abram): 2 You can see that the Eternal One has still not allowed me to have any children. Why don't you sleep with my servant girl? Maybe I could use her as a surrogate and have a child through her! Abram listened to Sarai and agreed to follow her plan.
3 After they had lived 10 years in Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took her servant girl Hagar, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife. 4 So Abram slept with Hagar. It was not long before she conceived. But as soon as she knew she was pregnant with Abram's child, Hagar's attitude changed and she became haughty toward Sarai. 5 Sarai would not tolerate her servant looking down on her, so she approached Abram again.
Sarai (to Abram): This is all your fault. I allowed my servant girl to be intimate with you, and as soon as she saw she was pregnant with your child, she started behaving arrogantly and disrespectfully toward me! I have done nothing to deserve this. Let the Eternal One judge who is in the wrong here-you or me!
Abram (to Sarai): 6 Sarai -look, she's still your servant girl. Do whatever you want with her. She's under vour control. So Sarai clamped down on Hagar severely, and Hagar ran away. 7 The Special Messenger of the Eternal One found Hagar alone by a spring of water out in the desert. It was the spring of water along the road that went to Shur.
Special Messenger: 8 Hagar, Sarai's servant girl? Where have you come from, and where are you planning to go?
Hagar: I am running away from my mistress, Sarai!
Genesis 16:12
And he shall be as a wild ass among men; his hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his brethren.