HDWN? This one might hurt (especially for the men) to read…

Before we resume Abram & Sarai's story, I must give you faithful readers a heads up. This post will discuss forced marriage & circumcision - reader discretion advised.

And, as usual, *please, note that my mission is to connect ancient Biblical stories to a modern generation; all stories will be told with modern language and analogies (and memes), linked back to specific verses for reference.

Let’s dive into the deep end of the river at midnight with our pajamas on, shall we?

Sarai has still not been able to bear any children for her hubby Abram, leaving the couple heirless. But, she did have a female servant, an Egyptian named Hagar, who she put up to the task of childbearing. So Sarai takes some drastic efforts here (efforts that as a woman who hopes to be married one day, leaves my jaw on the floor), and she goes to Abram and says, “Honey… the Lord has prevented me from having children, so I’m giving you a hall pass. Go in to my servant; I’ll have children by her” (Genesis 16:1-2). What does Abram do? He does what normally every woman wants except for in a situation like this - HE LISTENS. After 10 years in Canaan, Sarai (Abe’s OG wife) took Hagar and gave her to Abram as a second wife (Genesis 16:3). Now, did Hagar have a choice here? The answer is no - she was given as a servant by her master Sarai.

I want to note here that Sarai has sacrificed the intimacy of her marriage, and the trust of a close friend (Hagar would have been with her every day as a maid-servant) to fulfill her desires by herself… and things get pretty messy because of it.

Well, well, well… wouldn’t you know it. Hagar conceived. And, boy, was she not happy with Sarai (keep in mind, Abe was like 85ish years old and Hagar had no choice in the matter... would you be happy? Didn't think so...).

Sarai, Sarai, Sarai, if it isn’t the consequences of your own actions. Sarai isn’t able to handle the absolutely horrendous side-eye that Hagar is giving her. She goes to Abram and says, “May this wrong done to me be done unto you! She saw she conceived and looked at me with contempt! May the Lord judge between me and you!” (Genesis 16:4-5). So Abram looks at Sarai and says, “She’s your servant, do to her what you want to.” Sarai treated Hagar so terribly that Hagar, barefoot and pregnant, took off into the wilderness to escape the wrath of her mistress (Genesis 16:6).

Hagar finds herself alone near a spring, feeling brokenhearted, used, and desperately hopeless. An angel of the Lord finds her, calls her by name, and asks her, “Hagar, where are you going?” (Keep in mind that any question the Lord seeks to ask, He already knows the answer to.) Hagar is honest with the angel saying, “I’m running away from my mistress” (Genesis 16:7-9). The angel has to deliver some difficult news. “Go back to Sarai and submit to her.” Knowing this is the last thing Hagar wants to hear, the angel continues, “I will multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered. You will bear a son, and his name will be Ishmael. He’s gonna be a wild donkey of a man (yes, those were the exact words). His hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen” (Genesis 16:10-12). 

Hagar called the name of the Lord who spoke to her saying, “You are a God of seeing; truly, I have seen a God who looks after me.” I want to point out 3 big significances in this part of the story.

1. God was with Hagar every step of the way as she ran. It was when she stopped to rest that He called out to her. The idea that God stays put “right where we left Him” when we run away or stray away does not line up with His character; God is a provider who pursues us recklessly and radiantly with His love. If you stop and turn around, you’ll realize He’s been chasing you the whole time.

2. If I had to guess how Hagar was feeling… it wouldn’t be good. My guess is that after being forced to marry and winding up pregnant, she felt violated, used, out-of-control, helpless, and hopeless. Maybe some of us haven't been forced to marry an 85 year old man and bear his child, but I'me sure we've all been in one situation or another that has left us feeling exactly like Hagar. God still pursued her. He pursued her in her brokenness, as He pursues all of us in ours. He saw it all & sees it all - the brokeness, the pain, the heart - and works it out for His purposes.

3. God didn’t curse Abraham or Hagar for this mistake, nor did He blame the unborn child. Instead, He kept the promise He made to Abraham that his offspring would be innumerable, working a decision made out of impatience for His good and glory. He keeps His promises.

So Hagar goes back to Sarai and Abram’s house, and bears a son when Abe is 86 years old; she names him Ishmael as the Lord commanded her to (Genesis 16:15-16).

Fast forward a few years… Abe is now 99 years old. God appears to him and booms, “I am God Almighty - walk before me, be blameless so that I may make my covenant with you and multiply you.” I say "booms" because Abe falls to his face as the Lord continues, “Your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham - for I have made you the father of many nations. You will be fruitful, and a ton of kings and their nations will come from you. Our covenant will be everlasting, as will their possession of the land of Canaan, for I am their God” (Genesis 17:1-8). This is the awesome thing about God - in Him, through His promises - we transform! Abram to Abraham, Simon to Peter, Paul to Saul! His power is endless! In Him, we are a new creation!

God continues, “This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.” YIKES BROTHER… He goes on, “You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin to keep this covenant. At eight days old, every male whether born in your house or bought with money from foreigners will be circumcised. So my covenant will be forever in your flesh. Any uncircumcised male shall be cut off from his people” (Genesis 17: 9-14).

I’ve always wondered just how gobsmacked old Abe was at that… He probably didn’t have too much time to process it, because God went on, “As for Sarai your wife, she will be called Sarah. I will bless her and give you a son by her. She shall become nations and kings.” Now, talk about whiplash for poor old Abraham… in one sentence, God is telling him that he’ll have to cut off his foreskin, and in the next he’s changing his wife’s name and telling Abe that his son is yet to come. Abraham laughs (I’m hoping it was in a “Oh wow, I am so confused and kind of uncomfy - I’m just gonna laugh” instead of a “There’s no way this dude is legit” kinda way…) and says, “God - MY MIGHTY MAN - I’m 100 years old, and Sarah is 99… a child? From her womb? Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” God said, “Um… excuse me? Do you know who I am and what I’m about? Ishmael surely will go on to father 12 princes and multiply, but Sarah will have a son… and you know what? She’ll have it by this time next year. You’re gonna name him Isaac. Mic drop” (Genesis 17:15-21). 

When God finished, He dipped, leaving Abraham. Abraham took Ishmael (who was 13 at the time) and all the men of his household, both born and bought, and cut off the flesh of their foreskin. And then old Abe himself was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin at 99 YEARS OLD. Call it father and son bonding, because Abe and Ish were circumcised on the same day. In fact, every male was (Genesis 17:22-27).  Talk about a bonding experience.

Now, especially for the men reading this, I’m sure you’re cringing at how crazy and painful that must have been… but let me point out the foreshadowing here (I am so sorry, but I had to). I want you to recognize that God tells Abe that the covenant will apply to those born in the house and foreigners bought by the house. Remind you of any New Testament moment in particular? Here let me jog your memory - “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing riches on all who call on Him” (Romans 10:12). We can see, even from the Old Testament, that God has His heart set on all people, all His children - Jew, Greek, native, foreigner, born, and bought. Jesus died for ALL. FOR YOU!!! That's what He did!

Will Sarah ever conceive? I mean… the woman is almost 100 years old. What’s up with Lot? Where did he go? And if Abraham were to tell yet another ruler that Sarah was his sister… Would it work a second time? Come back next week to find out!

If you’ve read this far, know that Jesus loves you beyond measure, and I appreciate you more than you know! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being here. I hope you entered this week’s giveaway! Reach out with questions, comments, topic ideas - I want to hear from you!

Be on the look-out - I’ll upload a poll about what story/topic we’ll talk about next week! I love you!