In Genesis 21, we find that the relationship between Sara and Hagar has become even more complicated than it was last time we encountered the two women. And, of course, the relationship between Avraham and Sarah, as well as Avraham and Hagar, is necessarily more complicated as well. It seems that we have here the beginnings of the first dysfunctional family--a family that will only get more and more dysfunctional as the generations progress.
But for this blog entry, I would like you to think about family dynamics, and respond to what you see happening between the two women or between Avraham and the women. If, indeed, the most dominant theme of the Hebrew bible is the notion of ethical responsibility, how does it figure into this story of a bizarre love triangle gone wrong?
Please post your response no later than 10:30am on Thursday, February 21.
33 comments:
The idea of leverage in relationships is by no means foreign to modern society... we see it in daytime dramas, and we see it here in this passage. Hagar, as a servant, has been approached by her master's wife to bear her master's child, so once she becomes pregnant, she realizes she has some leverage. In the passage it says Sara became "of light-worth in [Hagar's] eyes". Now that she's carrying Avraham's child her position of slave seems unfitting. If you're searching for a breakdown in ethical responsibility, I suppose you could argue Hagar is shirking her responsibility as a slave here, but I think that would be stretching it. The real breakdown of responsibility comes (mostly) on Avraham's behalf. Rather than man up as the "head of the household", he lets Sara deal with Hagar how she pleases and her solution is less than "just".
Again in chapter 21 we see Sara with beef against Hagar. She says "the son of this slave-woman shall not share-inheritance with my son". All of a sudden the child (Yishmael) who they hoped would be the answer to all of this prophesy and is good enough to carry their line is reduced to "the son of this slave-woman".
Yet, as we discussed in class Tuesday, God complicates things. I wonder if Avraham would have gone through with kicking Hagar and Yishmael out had God not intervened. Verse 11 says "the matter was exceedingly bad in Avraham's eyes", but God comes in and says no... go ahead and kick them out... they'll be fine.
It's so much easier to act (especially when the action is may not feel right) if God let's you know it will be OK in the end.
In terms of the dynamics, I feel like this is just a big bad case of irony. Because Hagar was pregnant and bore Abraham's child when Sarah was still barren, the slave now feels like she is on the same level of importance as the slave-driver. Because of this, it's almost as if the two women are in the midst of classic "sibling" rivalry, which is especially ironic since Abraham and Sarah are the actual siblings in this story. Sarah and Hagar are basically competing for the level of superiority of their sons in the eyes of Abraham, who is indeed stuck between a rock and a hard place with this dilemma. On one hand, Sarah is his sister/wife and should be loyal to her, barren or not. God did wind up allowing her to bear Abraham a child, after all, and he was from the marriage, not the "bizarre love triangle". But on the other hand, Hagar bore Abraham's first-born son, which was a big deal in these times with birthright and all. In context, it seems like Abraham did the smart thing in staying out of Sarah and Hagar's fight.
In the case of ethical responsibility, Sarah is basically very unforgiving of Hagar, especially considering that the child only exists because of Sarah's bizarre command. Sarah, like many mothers, wants the world for her son and doesn't want the bastard child to get in the way. However, Abraham, like many parents, wants things to be fair for both his sons. He only grants Sarah's wish to send Hagar away after knowing God will take care of the other seed, for though he may be illegitimate, he is still a descendant of Abraham. Abraham got all the female drama out of his life, but only because his ethics, for once, kicked in and helped him.
You can see Avraham's internal struggle begin to play out after Sara approaches Avraham telling him to drive out Hagar and "her" son (Gen 21:10). In this moment he is faced with the ethical responsibility of being a good father to his son or being a good husband and father to his other family. The question facing him is not an easy one as most questions of ethics seem to be: Do you pick the child who is a miracle child to receive your inheritance or your first born child who is the rightful heir? As we will see God makes his ethical decision easier by telling him which direction to go in. Yet as Ian touched on in his post, I can't help but wonder how much Avraham still struggled with kicking his own son and his son's mother (even if sleeping with her meant nothing to him) out into the desert with no means of a living and little food to sustain them.
Ian and Kate touched on Sara's ethical responsibility in this chapter, I found that although she had some ethical responsibility toward Hagar and her son since Hagar was her slave, yet there was not much ethical responsibility on her part. Avraham was in the position as the head of the "family" which Sara suggested him into, yet it took two to get into the complicated triangle that we find them in by Gen 21.
Maybe I’m a bit naïve, but I didn’t get the image that Hagar was using her son as leverage as both Ian and Kate suggest. Kate’s right in pointing out that it was Sara’s bizarre idea in the first place. I have no problem with then making the leap that she just imagined Hagar looking down on Sara. I imagine Hagar being thankful that Sara put her in this position. Ethics hasn’t really been a strong point for either Avraham nor Sara thus far and Avraham is going to push this even further in the next chapter where, for the first time in his life, he doesn’t doubt or question God. I would be temporarily comforted that Avraham was upset about his wife’s request to dump his other family but I think he was troubled more because of selfish reasons of wanting to protect his blood line. I find it very strange that God stepped in and took Sara’s side, but I was quieted when he then took care of the wondering couple when they were near death. The messege I take from this passage is a simple one, that love triangles always lead to a mess and that they should have trusted in God in the first place to prevent such ethical dilemmas.
do we even really know if this is about ethical responsibility and even then, would we understand what that meant at the time? and...what is the "bizarre love triangle" (i'm seriously asking because i'm a little unsure)
i agree with ian that it was mainly Avraham's responsibility in the first place as the "head of the household" to deal with this situation, but he didn't. I guess maybe his way of dealing with it was letting Sara deal with it, i dunno.
ethical responsibility....whose to say...
"The matter was exceedingly bad in Avraham's eyes because of his son." (21:11)
Though this 'love triangle' exists between Avraham, Sara, and Hagar, the son, Yishmael, plays a key role. As the above passage implies, it is because of Yishmael that Avraham comes to see his ethics. And, thus, it is through this relationship that we may see the motives of Avraham in this 'love triangle.'
"...because of his son." I see this being read in one of three ways. One: 'because of his hatred towards his son.' This could be established in blame towards his son, regret towards the ordeal, perhaps even blaming Sara and/or Hagar. Second: 'because of his selfish desire for his son.' This could be substantiated in similar ways that hatred would, such as blame towards Sara and/or Hagar for being selfish themselves and/or for making it such a big deal. And, third: 'because of his love for his son.' This could be expressed in him being torn that Sara would outcast him so.
Each of these readings takes "bad" in a different meaning. In the first reading, the matter is bad for himself. Avraham does not want to deal with his problematic responsibilities. In the second reading, the matter is bad for himself because it is bad for his son. Avraham does not want to have his son outcast, because he wants him for himself. And, again, he does not want to deal with his problems. In the third reading, the matter is bad for his son. Avraham does not want to have his son suffer on his account.
This third reading brings up an interesting connection. In the next verse (v12), we see that Avraham, for the first time in a while, listens to God for instruction. As we see in the next chapter, it is because of the suffering of his son Yitzhak on his account that he listens to God. His son, whether by Sara or Hagar, is what brings him listen to God. Using conclusions from my comment on Avraham in Egypt, we find it is in this reading that we see Avraham to be 'ethically responsible,' as he is in "accord with God." In this reading, perhaps it is Yishmael that is the first of Avraham's sons to be 'sacrificed.'
To add to this, in verse 14: "Avraham...took some bread and a skin of water--placing them upon [Hagar's] shoulder--together with the child and sent her away." This a noteworthy little scene of endearment. This shows Avraham's care for Hagar and/or his son.
--Nathan H.
In the first recorded conflict between Sarai and Hagar, Avram told Sarai to do with Hagar as she saw fit. In the second, Sara told Avraham what to do with Hagar. To me this definitely indicates a major power shift in Sara and Avraham's relationship. In the first incidence of Hagar's leaving, she left of her own accord. In the second, Avraham sent her out. In comparing the two events it seems to me that Hagar took more responsibility for herself the first time than she did the second. She was pregnant the first time, but when she fled, she ran to a well, certainly a necessity for survival in that climate. In the second incident, she just silently accepted the bread and water Avraham gave her and didn't seem to even try to survive. When the water ran out she "cast" Ishmael under a bush and went away from him so she didn't have to watch him die. Ishmael was 13+ years old at the time and had already been circumcised and thus ushered into manhood so we have to picture an adolescent, not a young child beneath that bush like I'm always prone to do. I also found it interesting that when Hagar left the first time, God's messenger heard her voice, but the second time, when she was cast out, God's messenger hearkened to her son's cries instead of to her own. And he did so for Avraham's sake, not Hagar's.
While Sara was empowered by giving birth to Isaac, Hagar was demoralized by the event. I can't imagine the grief she must have suffered when she realized that she had fallen out of favor with Avraham who had once even petitioned God for Ishmael to be his heir of promise. But something else just occurred to me. By being cast out Hagar became a free woman, right? We see her later choosing Ishmael's Egyptian wife for him, certainly not a privilege she would have had if she'd still been a slave. In every tragedy some blessing can be found.
I noticed that both Michelle and Kate talk about Avraham in terms of this deep, internal struggle that he much be facing regarding his sons, that he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. I find this interesting because in many ways, it’s his own fault. However, after seeing Sara’s extreme unhappiness with Hagar after she is pregnant because of him, he throws his hands up, fleeing ethical responsibility. As a result of Sara’s reaction, as Ian points out, he says Sara can do what she wants with Hagar. Avraham seems to be very good at giving Sara the power in their relationship, claiming he is not making life-altering, heart-wrenching decisions, but rather carrying out Sara’s wishes and then escaping any responsibility. I agree with Ian that he needs to man up and look after his household and act based upon what is best for them, rather than in a “hands thrown up” or “what can I do” kind of manner. Another interesting point which I too considered, as Daye did, was about the idea of Hagar being sent away as a blessing rather than a negative thing. To not be a slave would indicate freedom- not only from a terrible existence, but from a terribly dysfunctional family! I think to an outside point of view, as we have, it seems obvious to want her to get the heck out of their family and away from all the drama. However, it’s always hard to leave what you know, no matter how unhealthy or dysfunctional it is.
The relationship between Hagar, Avraham, and Sara doesn't seem like a true love triangle to me but more like a straight line with an appendage hanging from it. I say this because Hagar was a servant to Avraham and Sara, and was simply their property. The reason Hagar was given to Avraham was so that Sara "may be built-up-with-sons through her" (16:2) as if Hagar was just safeguard to carry on Avraham's seed. Hagar could never be raised to the level of Avraham's lover or Sara's equal because of her low status. This is emphasized by Hagar being referred to as their "slave-woman" in chapter 21. As for the blessings, in verse 13, Yishmael was made a nation, but the covenant from God was given to Yitzhak (v. 12) because the promise was made with Avraham and his wife Sara. Yitzak got to carry on the family name, the prestige, and the other benefits from God. Yishmael was just given a blessing that would help him survive.
I find in interesting how people are talking about who ethics when in my opinion no one has really acted with any ethically responibility at any point in this drama. First, Avraham slept with his slave then wouldn't deal with her. Not ethical. Second, Sara had her slave sleep with her husband and then tossed her out. Not ethical. And maybe the only person that acted ethical at all was Hager but even she used her son as leverage to get a better treatment. Not ethical, and slaves Avraham and Sara have no claim to being ethical anyways. I am starting to feel really sorry for Yishmael. By the time he was 13 he was used by his mother, sent out twice once by his father wife, and was circumised in mostly likey not a very nice way by father. Ethical responibility is thrown out and what really rules here is the love of power.
Im not sure what measure of ethics we are supposed to bring into reading this passage. As Katie points out, would we even understand what ethical responsibility meant at this time?
In reality, it would seem like Avraham is the person making the poor choices as the patriach of this family, first by taking a second wife, then by driving the second out (not to mention attempted filicide along the way). But in terms of the narrative, we have to assume that Avraham can really only be free to do what is sanctioned by the character of God. Despite how morally deplorable it is to send ones wife and first born out into the desert, how much choice or will does Avraham have to disobey God? We are given the indication that Avraham was reluctant to obey Sarah's malicious orders, but perhaps if we want to look at this passage in terms of ethical responsibility, it is using this rather extreme example to show that obdience to ones God and wife should override ones own judgement. After all, Avraham had to assume God would be looking out for Hagar and Ishmael all the way.
I think that if you really think about it there are really three triangles going on here: 1)Avraham, Sara, and Yitzhak 2)Avraham, Sara, and Hagar 3) Avraham, Hagar, and Yishmael
Just to make a note: Avraham is the one mentioned in all three of those triangles. Thus, he really has responsibility to others. (Sara, Hagar, Yitzhak, and Yishmael) It seems to me that Avraham is the one who should have headed up all the decisions because he is quite honestly the one who "created" the problem. Furthermore, although I was initially leaning toward thinking Hagar used her son as leverage I have begin thinking of this from a different point of view. Sara can't have/or at least hasn't had children for a long time. She is probably a little embarassed and ashamed. Because of that she has her slave sleep with her husband (Note: Avraham ultimately chose to do so. In those days it's somewhat improbably that a husband was demanded around by his wife) Throughout the narrative it seems that Sara has a closer relationship with Hagar (or at least perhaps I imagined was around her more often just because she was a women) than Avraham did. So Sara who is probably initially offering Hagar out of guilt of her own inadequacy then watches Hagar get pregnant, have a son, and we all know that new moms are some of the happiest people in the world. So imagine how all this would have had to make Sara feel. I think that this text favors Sara's feelings toward Hagar and so we feel negatively toward her. However, by Hagar wanting the best for her son or wanting to make sure that he is not forgotten isn't she being ethically responsible? Furthermore, even though Sara did finally have a son there would have still been a gap of time before she did that they were all wondering....Could Avraham have thought that perhaps Yishmael would in fact be his only son? Therefore, he would have had a stronger bond and payed closer attention to him that most fathers would have to sons of their slaves? It seems to be a very intricate weave of emotions for Avraham. After Sara does give birth it complicates things further because now perhaps Avraham has created this bond with Yishmael and a closeness but feels it is in some way betrayal to Yitzhak. It seems to me that Avraham truly does have feelings for Sara because he gives her permission to pretty much do what she wants. Avraham also has feelings for Yishmael for sure and Hagar possibly. This is shown as mentioned above by the comments that it didn't sit well with him and also he gave them water and food to take. Avraham too has feelings for Yitzhak because he is the son who he has been waiting for years. He is his true heir. Long story short...Avraham has created a mess, he tries to deny responsibility it seems, but does for once actually do what God tells him...yet looking again...is that just a coincidence to get Avraham off the hook? Even though Hagar and Yishmael will be upset, Avraham's been given the OK by God...so if anything happens he can say it's God's fault. By doing this he is complying to Sara's wishes and thus she is happy. By pretty much making his other son disappear, Yitzak is secured as the heir which is good for him. Thus, in many ways doesn't it seem that by God stepping in and assuring that Yishmael and Hagar will be OK so let them go, he has released Avraham from any responsibility?
This is the first time that the "system" kind of got screwed up: Sara was supposed to bear Avraham's true heir but couldn't, so he had Sara's slave be a surrogate mother (if you will). So this is a real step forward...almost progressive in a way. Then, God heals Sara and she finally bears his true heir. So what is Avraham supposed to do now? I think both sons are his "true heirs" but in different ways. I agree with the others who said that Avraham experienced an internal struggle. What a difficult decision to make!
As far as ethical responsibility is concerned, I don't think Avraham ever did anything wrong. Considering the circumstances, he made a perfectly reasonable decision, especially since God told him that his firstborn son would turn out fine.
In addition, I also don't think Hagar ever did anything wrong, and I don't think she ever used Yishmael as "leverage." Thinking from her point of view: she was asked by this prophet of God to bear his son--I think she had perfectly good reason to think she was something special! Of course she feels as though she has risen to their same level; that's understandable.
Sara, on the other hand, has acted whiny and spoiled the whole time. She wanted a son so badly, she had her slave have it for her; then when she became healed, she wanted nothing to do with either of them anymore.
Finally, as for the love triangle: going off of what Nathan said, Avraham cared deeply for Hagar, and wished her well, even though he sent her off. I don't think he ever "loved" her in that sense, but still cared for her. And again, this brings up Sara being spoiled again: as soon as she had her own son, she feared that she would have to compete with her for Avraham's love, and she didn't want to have to do that.
I have to agree a little bit with what everyone has said. We know that there are love triangles going on, and we know that Avraham is the most likely person to blame for all of this happening. But in my eyes, they all have something to be blamed for. Sara was the one that "made" her husband sleep with their slave, and now as soon as she can have a child, she decides that she is no longer satisfied with having Hagar around with the child that she pretty much made happen. Then on Hagars end of story, she tries to get some sympothy out of Sara since she had her husbands child, by using her child pretty much like bait. Then finally Avraham, being the "man of the house", just sits around acting as if nothing could quite possibly be his fault and he see's no sense in trying to fix things. So I guess in the end, they are all having a battle of ethics within themselves, and they all tie together.
betsy haldrup
Well it is interesting that they put themselves in this mess and don't understand why they have to deal with it. For not listening to God they deserve their controversy. You don't ask your slaves to bear your children, it's not cool. Ooh, the lunar eclipse is going on! Anyways, it seems odd that God lets them go ahead and send Hagar and her son into the wilderness. I mean, it's nice of him to bail them out of that whole issue, but they brought it on themselves. They didn't listen to God in the first place and what do you know, it didn't work out. Funny an all knowing being would be right.
Anyway, so they send her away and she throws her "lad" in the bushes and cries. Great parenting there. And God's like, aww, poor you having to deal with your child that you just threw in some bushes. Don't do that. He should have been like, woman! Get your kid, what kind of mother are you? I'm helping you out the least you could do is follow your maternal instinct.
I don't know, it just seems like everyone is being tards and God is ok with it.
I agree with what Meg when she says that this doesn’t seem like a true love triangle, but a straight line with an appendage hanging from it. There is no love in the case of Hagar and Avraham, and it is not considered a scandalous affair because the union is arranged by Sara.
There are many instances in today’s world of surrogate motherhood (of course the woman is artificially inseminated instead of having sex with the male) where a woman carries the child for a barren couple and after the birth hands the baby over, collects her check, and never contacts the couple again. Hagar was simply a vessel through which Avraham and Sara could successfully produce offspring. Before In-vitro fertilization it was not unheard of for the man in an infertile relationship to impregnate a close family friend who would then enable the pair to fulfill their dreams of raising a child.
There are many wars being waged around the morality of the ever-growing enterprise of surrogate motherhood, the idea of renting out someone’s body for 9 months then paying a sum for a child. But in the instance of Sara, Hagar, and Avraham, the ethics of this notion is even further challenged when Hagar is successfully impregnated under verbal contract and then is banished with child when Sara abandons her initial demands. Sara, who planned to love “the son of a slave-woman” as her own child because of her sterile state, hastily abolishes the woman carrying her husband’s seed. Her husband was listening to his wife’s commands and Hagar was the slave without another option. Therefore the breech of ethical responsibility in this story lies solely in Sara actions and lack of follow through.
-Betsy Robbins
A lot of people seem to have the same ideas about whats going on in these stories, but i kinda want to look at it in a different way. Avarham seems to get more chances in life than anyone to this point, and anyone every for that reason. He just seems to know how to play the game you could say. I believe within these stories and "Love Triangles" he thinks he can play the powerful god role at times, and then at others just doenst want to deal with situations. Its almost like he sees the bigger picture, but even then, that would not be an excuse for some of the actions that he does. Just like i was saying in class, and this may get to religious, and be based off what you believe in, but i think they are other forces and influences actin on Avraham during these stories. Free will also is a huge factor. To me, Avraham is someone that God clearly wants to use, but when will he get his head on straight and understand that he really isnt in control that much.
The love triangle and ethical responsibility is hard to understand in this passage. In terms of today’s beliefs and understanding of ethical responsibility, Avram would have been at fault first for sleeping with Hagar (outside of wedlock) and second for sending out his illegitimate child and mother. However, I’m not sure if such moral / ethical codes were applicable then. Hagar was a slave or property; she can be used and then tossed as her master pleases. Also, he has now had a “legitimate” (if there was such a thing then) with his wife Sara. He no longer needs Yishmael to continue the family. I feel however that Avram knew sending them out was wrong. He felt bad about it, showing he felt some responsibility for them, or at least for Yishmael. I feel he also felt less responsibility after God talked to him, feeling God was now responsible for them.
Sara, on the other had, could be seen as acting ethically irresponsible. She is the one who presented Hagar to Avram in the first place, and once she has a child of her own, casts both of them out. While she had no connection to Hagar or Yishmael, she should feel bad for giving them to her husband, replacing them, and the completely kicking them out. It is hard to judge any ethical responsibility in terms of the time the text was written and not in today’s terms.
As Kate said, birthright was a big deal in this time, and the prospect of Sara not having Avraham's first born son is infuriating to her. But I have to wonder...what did Sara expect from a situation like this? She gave Hagar to her own husband for a specific purpose, one she couldn't do herself. Did Sara think this baby was just going to be some kind of a formality, that it was not going to mean as much to Avraham as a child that she herself gave birth to? Sara's actions toward Hagar remind me of an impetulant child, as she wants so badly to secure her own son's favor that she puts Hagar and Ishmael in a dangerous situation.
Ethics, as many people have already said, was not a strong suit of Avraham's. It's not hard to see that, seeing as how this whole situation started because he had his way with Hagar. Avraham seems to take the easy way out in situations. Sara tells him what to do with Hagar, so he does it. Did he ever think about the potential consequences? While the absence of foresight isn't by any means unethical, it does lead to some irresponsibility. I think the most unethical thing in this passage, however, is that he allows Sara to cast Hagar out along with his own son. I don't understand why Avraham is so argumentative with God, who Avraham knows as a figure with immense power, on matters far less serious than giving up his son. If he is like this with God, why is he such a doormat to Sara? Why doesn’t he object? I don’t understand how Sara all of the sudden has this power over this whole situation…and I know we’re supposed to be analyzing Avraham’s ethics, but it seems that her sense of the word is in much greater need of improvement than his.
I believe Sarah and Avraham both denied faith in God, seeing as He promised Avram "I will make a great nation of you.........and will make your name great." (Gen. 12.2) THis maybe could be viewed as a lesson about not trusting in God's word and trying to take God's plans into your own hands to manipulate.
Right now in one of my classes I am researching reproductive cloning and it's ethical issues. Many times I think of Sarai trying to force fate to happen.
Back to the love triangle, it is very selfish and unfair of Sarai to treat Hagar and Yishmael pretty much like dogs. I feel as though, like such a recurring circumstance throughout history, people are plagued and haunted by insecurity and selfishness. Even the nicest people can be overcome by these consuming emotions. THis does not necessarily give Sarai an excuse, but her immature ways seem all to human.
I feel for Sarai,though, because maybe she was just trying so hard to fulfill her duty in God's eyes and be a worthy wife to Avraham.
But, from Hagar's perspective, she was pretty much used and discarded. Avraham was pretty disappointing to me, he does not really show much ethical responsiblity or even seem to make very many good, smart, or moral decisions. I guess this could be viewed as somewhat comforting, to think God does not discriminate against his "chosen people", and he still can make lessons out of their terrible mistakes.
I agree with Katie's comment about knowing the meaning of ethical responsibility. It's easy for us to look back on that situation and see how the two women and Avraham acted without ethical responsibility. However, by doing that we take it out of the context of its time frame thereby integrating it with the accepted paradigm of ethical responsibility in today's world. Like we discussed in class, it was expected that men have a successor to their family name, so in that sense it's only fitting for Avraham to want to continue his bloodline. I thought I would point out that at this point we have another instance where God could have conveniently interceded and healed Sara of her inability to give birth now instead of waiting until later. Returning to the question at hand, I believe only two people can be accused of a lack of ethical responsibility in this case, Avraham and Sara. After all, Hagar is a slave and does not have much choice in the situation.
I think that every character in this story (except the two sons) have made some ethical errors. I believe that both Avraham and Sara’s lack of faith in God’s promise and decision to act on their own was not ethically sound. I also see that both Avraham and Sara are very manipulative and they both are guilty of working other people for their own advantage. I think that Avraham was ethically irresponsible when he slept with Hagar-in spite of what his wife requested (I guess the extent to how irresponsible depends on the culture). I also think Sara acted unethically when she requested Avraham to sleep with Hagar, and then when she mistreated Hagar for being pregnant (which was what Sara wanted!!). I can see Danielle’s point that Hagar may have not been using her son as leverage, and Sara just painted that picture in her head so she could feel better about mistreating Hagar when venting her own jealousy. But I believe that Hagar sleeping with a man who already had a wife was unethical (again, that depends on the culture at the time). So who is really to blame for Hagar’s crime? Maybe they all are.
But what about God? No one else has seemed to mention him-is this because we believe him to be the definition of ethics? How could he intervene during some parts of the story, but not others?
I think we should rewind and recall why this situation is occurring in the first place. In Genesis 12:2, God tells Avram that he will make a great nation of him and give him a blessing. This blessing is elaborated in verse 7, "YHWH was seen by Avram and said: I give this land to your seed!" As we discussed in class the importance of this covenant/promise with Abraham is evident by God's repetition of it in following verses. For this reason, everything Avram does from here on out is affected by the knowledge that he is to have numerous (as many as the stars) descendants and they will inherit the land! Clearly this is no small deal. So it rightly affects all that Avraham now does. I agree that Avraham is responsible for the decisions made with Sara and Hagar, but as we see, regardless of the decision God is able to intervene as he does in chapter 21, easing Hagar's fears for her son. I don't know if I would really call this a love triangle as much as it is a man trying to fulfill the promise of God on his own. Even so, God also promises Hagar that he will make a great nation of Yishmael. So he is neither left our of God's sight. So we see that Avraham is of great importance, while still being fully human and therefore just as capable of making mistakes as Adam and Eve. Although he was found in favor with God, that does not automatically mean he still cannot make poor choices. The repeated incidents we see happening all turn out to be handled by God in order to fulfill his promise of giving the LAND to ALL Avraham's descendants. I think this theme of the land as inheritance should not be overlooked as it appears constantly throughout the biblical narrative.
Many people displayed a confusion when it comes to why God saved Hagar and her son and why Avraham finally decided to actually listen to and trust God, in their blog entries. From our discussion in class on Tuesday, it is obvious that God does some mysterious things. We will never understand why God does what we does, although that should not deter us from discussing the issue. That is part of the 'adventure' of reading Biblical texts. Being able to question everything and think about why God did what he did and figuring out what we should get out of it. I just think it is important to keep that in mind and that will help keep your mind open.
So having said all of that let me discuss my interpretation of the text. While reading 21:10 I for some reason thought of a child (Yishmael) with a step mom (Sara) who he doesn't like or get along with. Then I thought of Cinderella. It may sound like a weird comparison but consider this: the step mother in both situations is tied to the child and should have some responsibility, compassion, or care for them but neither wants to. Cinderella doesn't really enjoy the company of her step mother and sisters but at the same time she does wish that they would except her. I would imagine that this would be the same with Yishmael. Although he has a mother, Hagar, who cares about him I am sure he longed to be accepted by his fathers wife. After all, isn't social acceptance huge, especially in todays society?
Another comparison that just came to me, is that of God showing justice for all parties, even the "unwanted". He tells Avraham that his other son and Hagar will be ok that he can essentially go on with his life with Sara. In Cinderella, she loses he glass slipper which leads to her finding Prince Charming who takes her away from the bad situation.
Wow I am surprised how a common Disney story and the Bible can have such similarities. I don't think these thoughts are a stretch of the imagination either and I hope others agree.
We see Sara given a child of Avram's seed. So after this occurred, Sara realized she could rid of Hagar, who provided Avram with his first child. This is a very weird situation since Avram has two women he has kids with living in the same household. I cannot picture Avram honestly keeping Hagar around, since he was married to Sara. Even though Sara was very rude and selfish in the whole situation, I cannot imagine Avram doing anything different. He gave her some bread and water so he didn't just completely abandon her. He was put in a tough decision, and he made the best decision he could.
The love triangle in this story is indeed a crazy one. I believe as Ian first stated and many agreed that Avraham needs to step up his over all ethical responsibility. He steps out of the picture and and hands off his responsitility to Sari telling her to deal with the situation between her and Hagar. But before then, Sari, hands off her responsibility to Hagar to have the child she was supposed to have. So is this actually a love "triangle" or just some people stuck with each other bound by slavary/marriage/bribery.
Does society act ethically responsible now? No, I believe we don't. "Is this where it first occured in history" and as society we are weak and cannot learn from times past?
Let’s look at the cause of all the dysfunction. I think its roots are in Sarai and Avram’s lack of trust in God’s plan for them. It sucks, and it initiates the pain and dysfunction that follows, but it is a very human thing to do in this situation. (Not excusing it just understanding it.) Hagar is a big-time victim and innocent bystander. She becomes a slave in a way we are not sure of, and then is made to sleep with a very old man; so far a pretty traumatizing way to start your life. We quickly see a jealousy develop between Hagar and Sarai because Hagar is fertile and Sarai is not, even though the whole thing was Sarai’s idea. I agree with others on the fact that the dysfunction continues because Avram remains passive, letting Sarai “afflict” Hagar in ways we don’t know. This is another instance of shirking ethical responsibility. Pain and dysfunction result again from humans taking control of something that isn’t theirs to control, and others not taking enough control or responsibility; a reoccurring theme. Sarai continues the pattern of dodging responsibility by trying to make the idea she had go away. What is fascinating to me is that even though God does seem to have a specific plan for Avram and Sarai, and even though both of them mess up over and over again in trust and in control, God works to iron out the situation between Hagar and Avram and Sarai by encouraging Hagar to return. His message to her has an underlying tone of “Hagar, you being pregnant is not what I had in mind, but I will see you through this. Forget what Sarai says. Trust me.” Avram and Sarai’s attempts at ditching responsibility for their actions are foiled by God. I love stories like this where human boneheadedness can still be reconciled and turned to something good.
I agree with much of what was already mentioned. I think Dan makes a good point in saying that Hagar should be free of ethical responsibility because she is a slave who must follow as she is told. Even when she did feel as if she was more superior when pregnant, that didn't take away the fact that she still would do as she was told. I also think Amy Leigh makes a point when she talks about even when leaving a dysfunctional family, it was still family which made it hard for Hagar. I also found it interesting in chapter 22:2 where it says "Pray take your son, you only-one, whom you love, Yitzhak." In this you would believe that Avraham would only have one son, but as we know he also has a blood son through Hagar. Does this add a new thought to this dysfunctional family and to the love triangle. Did Avraham ever love this other son...
There are many instances in modern times of love triangles. To many times, it involves married individuals. In the instance of Sara and Avraham, Sara told Avraham to go ahead sleep with Hagar. However, Avraham should have said no. It was his responcibility to say no. If my husband told me to go sleep with someone, I would not feel comfortable in doing so. I would see that as a test of love. After the fact, Sara should not have punished Hagar for doing what her master commanded her to do. In no way should Hagar be at fault when she was no free will.
Family dynamics is something I have no real comment about. I do not think there is one functional family out there. People may put on an act as if their life is perfect, but in all actuallity they are not. Sara and Avram is a classic example of modern day cheating. Even though the spouse says it is okay, it is not. God saw this act of adultry and punished them by making their life and their struggles more complicated. Hagar should not get in trouble. She is a slave. A slave has no freewill to do as she pleases. She should however not treated Sara any differently after becoming pregnant. Then again, Sara also had no right to treat her as badly as she did.
In Chapter 21,
the relationship gets worse between Hagar and Sara.
It all started from Avaram when he slept with Hagar and bore Yishmael.
It seems impossible that Sara and Hagar could live together in one roof. Because, they both have sons of Avaram.
It was very interesting when God said to Avram "just listen to what Sara says", and he did not complain about what God says.
Avram didn't complain or argue with God because
God said like a promise
that he will make a nation of him because he is also your son.
Thus, Avram's mind felt reassured.
How poor Hagar..
Avram seemed to have no responsibility of being a father of Hagar's son.
I feel like
When God said he is going to
take care of Yishmael,
Yishmael is going to be
something great,
since Hagar had to went through
all the hard times and pains.
What is happnening here is that
now, Yishmael and Issac are
divided. Yishmael is going to make his own nation through God, and Issac is going to stay
with his father.
They are going to be different
and it's going to be very
exciting to see
the difference between those two sons, because one of them had no father.
It's just so complicated about
the relationsip between
those two women.
Hagar should not have slept with
Avram but if Avram forcefully
slept with her, then Hagar really
did nothing wrong.
It becomes all Avram's fault.
In Sara's case, because she has more power than Hagar, she only thought about the bad feelings.
Sara should have felt pity on Hagar.
Kevin Lee
To me, this "bizarre love triange" is just like the "baby momma drama" that you see in today's world. You have a man that is in love with one woman, but she cannot bear him a son, so he goes and sleeps with another women to get what he wants. But, unlike today's scenario's, it was Sara's idea for Avraham to sleep with Hagar. So the jealous and regret that Sara is experiencing is mostly her own fault. Avraham is at fault because he allowed this situation to happen. If he would have just trusted in God, and not laughed at him, he would not have gotten himself into this situation. Maybe the situation between Sara and Hagar, and the situation between in the middle east that is going on today, is a part of Avraham's pay-back for not trusting and believing in God.
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