Abraham Part IV

Infertility is a very emotionally stressful condition. There are feelings of envy, failure and loneliness. Add to that the pressures of a culture that bases worth on the number of children you have and a perfect recipe for shattered faith. While Abraham and Sarah's faith did not fail, they did question just how God was going to fulfill his promise. Sarai had come up with a way for God to fulfill His promise. It was not uncommon for a wife to give her handmaid to her husband when she could not bear children herself. Why hadn't she thought of it sooner?! Then she talked Abram into it. It worked beautifully. Hagar became Abram's wife and soon became pregnant. That is when her plan backfired. Hagar too believed child bearing was a social status symbol making her better than her mistress Sarai who was now doubtless green with envy. Sarai blamed Abram, and he told her to do whatever she wanted with Hagar. Sarai treated her so badly that she ran away. It was God who went after her and brought her back.

This account should be a stern warning for both men and women. Wives have a tremendous influence on their husbands. While the words, "I think we should do this. . ." get women nowhere, "I wonder if this would. . ." can move mountains. I have talked my husband into many decisions (more bad than good) using the power of suggestion. Since it was only a suggestion we can feel the obligation to blame or take credit (which ever is appropriate). If things take a turn for the worse, then the man is conveniently the head of the household and the decision-maker!

It is important that women realize the influence they have on their families and take time for prayer and seeking God especially before making suggestions. It is equally important that men realize that God should lead them especially when their wife is under pressure.

God's Promise to Hagar

Hagar was promised that her son would be a great nation (even though he wasn't the promised heir of Abraham). Along with this promise was an interesting prophecy - her son's hand would be against every man and every man's hand against him. The promise was "inherited" from his father, that is, it was because of Abram that Ishmael was blessed. The prophecy was inherited from his mother. It was a prophecy of the bitterness, which would saturate the man, and the nation that came from him. Hagar taught bitterness to Ishmael. She taught him to be against Isaac and she taught him that everyone was out to hurt him. To this day there is envy and bitterness between the Arabs and the Jews.

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