Genesis 16

On the tail of God’s covenant with Abram, there is already a lapse in judgement on Abram’s part. “Perhaps God needs me to do something to make sure His promises come true. Oh I know! I’ll sleep with my wife handmaid and have kids through her, that way the Lord’s promise can still come true!”.  In truth, it was Sarai’s idea in the first place (v2), but regardless where the idea came from, it was never the Lord’s. (See 17:19)

This shortcut Abram bred serious contention within his household.  Arguments break out of whose fault it is now why things are sour (v5). Not only for Abram, but for all of Abram’s children will bear the consequences of this moment of disbelief (v12). Perhaps Ishmael bearing the bitterness of not being chosen son or loved like Isaac will cause him and his descendants to live in such hostility towards Isaac and his families.

Such conflicts especially on the tail of the remarkable chapter 15 should lend to the consideration that perhaps God’s promise will not come about after all.  Abram is supposed to be a blessing to world, yet all that is produce so far is lies (in Egypt) and misdeeds (with Hagar).  Whatever the case, we are to think if the covenant was left up to Abram, it would only end in a bloody disaster.

The Lord shows kindness to Hagar who as been driven out by her mistress (v6-10).  It was from this point onward that Hagar referred to Lord by a different than Abram and Isaac’s descendant. “The God who sees” and the well in the place was named such to remember the event.  I am not an expert historian, but curious enough how there are now three major religions of the world who refer to God by different names.  Indeed as you read the bible, one finds that different peoples sometimes have their own traditions about the God of Abram based on their different experiences. Consider the Samaritan woman at the well who asked Jesus a question about the differences in Jewish and Samaritian traditions.  To speak to the issue between Isalm, Judiasm, and Christianity, I refer to Jesus’ gentle answer of the Samaritan woman:

 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. – John 4:21-24

In saying this Jesus simply says something of this effect, “Soon it won’t matter where you worship God. God has always given revelation to the Jews and they have always been His chosen people. But the dawning the new covenant, the hour of the cross, signifies a new way to worship God and that is based on the revelation of truth through Jesus Christ and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.  ”

Hagar returned to her mistress obeying the word of the angel that spoke to her and Ishmael was born, the future of a long line of descendants who will refer to God by a different name (v15)  The world may very well have different traditions of the God of creation, but all will be held accountable to what they will do with His Son, His chosen vessel and ultimate revelation to mankind.  All of man’s guilty or righteous verdict will be decided on what they do with Jesus.