Proper 7 / Pentecost 5 / OT 11
Devotional
Water From the Well
Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
Object:
... And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept.
-- Genesis 21:16
The story of Hagar and her son is perplexing. An aspect of Israel's relationship with their neighbor was reflected in Sarah's jealousy toward Ishmael. She was afraid that he would share in Isaac's inheritance. Did she suspect that Abraham might have favored Ishmael, his firstborn son? To protect Isaac, Sarah asked Abraham to cast him out. Strangely, God told Abraham to cooperate with Sarah's selfish behavior because of the importance of this family line. "... For it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you." It was as if God would tolerate some ethically questionable behavior because there was something of greater importance at stake here. At the same time, it was made clear that God was active in the future of people other than Israel. "As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring." Abraham was seen as not only the father of the Jews but the family of humanity.
As God had promised, "in (Abraham) all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3b). God seemed to pay particular attention to the lives of slaves when they cried out to him. "... She lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy...." While it is only hinted at here, it is clear that God paid attention to the sufferings of other nations and made promises to them as well. "... God was with the boy, and he grew up...." The complexity of our relationship with other people of distinct faith is hinted at here. From the beginning, God's story is much more complex than just God's relationship with us. We are part of a vast puzzle that God is putting together throughout the entire universe.
-- Genesis 21:16
The story of Hagar and her son is perplexing. An aspect of Israel's relationship with their neighbor was reflected in Sarah's jealousy toward Ishmael. She was afraid that he would share in Isaac's inheritance. Did she suspect that Abraham might have favored Ishmael, his firstborn son? To protect Isaac, Sarah asked Abraham to cast him out. Strangely, God told Abraham to cooperate with Sarah's selfish behavior because of the importance of this family line. "... For it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you." It was as if God would tolerate some ethically questionable behavior because there was something of greater importance at stake here. At the same time, it was made clear that God was active in the future of people other than Israel. "As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring." Abraham was seen as not only the father of the Jews but the family of humanity.
As God had promised, "in (Abraham) all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3b). God seemed to pay particular attention to the lives of slaves when they cried out to him. "... She lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy...." While it is only hinted at here, it is clear that God paid attention to the sufferings of other nations and made promises to them as well. "... God was with the boy, and he grew up...." The complexity of our relationship with other people of distinct faith is hinted at here. From the beginning, God's story is much more complex than just God's relationship with us. We are part of a vast puzzle that God is putting together throughout the entire universe.
