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| Is your house a home, or more like Babbitt’s abode? |
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| Sept. 23, 2007
Background Scripture: Genesis 21:9-21
Devotional Reading: Genesis 16
A cursory reading of Genesis 21:9-21 might cause us to assume there is little in it for us today. Slavery is a thing of the past in our world. Concubinage is no longer practiced in our society. The rule that first sons shall be the primary heirs is no longer in force. Nevertheless, this ancient family story is quite relevant for our family life today.
(Note: While it is commonly assumed that slavery is no longer an issue, it still exists on parts of the planet. Concubinage and the primacy of the firstborn still exist in various forms.)
One of the reasons for this narrative is to explain why Abraham made Isaac, his second son, his heir instead of Ishmael, his firstborn. But, whatever the writer’s intentions, he puts the spotlight not only on the family of Abraham, but on us and our families as well.
Some of the major factors behind the tension and conflict in his family are still present in family life today: jealousy, favoritism, sexuality, ego and hostility, to name a few.
In Abraham’s family, it is not difficult to discern the first reason for conflict and resentment: Abraham and Sarah are not only unable to have children, but they have now reached an age when conception is no longer considered a possibility. A woman who could not conceive was thought to be punished by God and a man who could not beget children, especially a male heir, was believed to be either in disfavor with God or lacking in essential manhood.
Solutions into problems
Abraham proposed to alleviate this problem by resorting to a time-honored practice of concubinage: A secondary wife of little social or legal standing obtained through capture or purchase. This seemed to work. Abraham was able to have a male child with Hagar, his concubine.
Unfortunately, this “solution” became another problem. Now, Abraham had an heir – although not the heir he wished to have with Sarah – but that also had a demoralizing effect upon Sarah, since Hagar, the slave, was able to do what she could not.
This situation changed again when, after God’s promise, Sarah conceived and bore Isaac. (“Isaac” means “one laughs,” a reference to Gen. 15:12-15; 21:6). Sarah fiercely fought for Isaac’s place as prime heir. Ishmael was Abraham’s first son, but Isaac was the first born to him and his legal wife. Think of the tension in Abraham’s house.
The birth of Isaac did not bring laughter to the house household of Abraham and Sarah. Before Sarah conceived Isaac, Hagar enjoyed a privileged position and taunted Sarah. Now, even though she was once more undisputed head of the house, Sarah was even more jealous.
Seeing Ishmael playing with Isaac, Sarah got revenge: “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” Note that the term “slave woman” is repeated and she refers to Isaac as “my son Isaac,” not “our” son.
A death sentence
Although Genesis says “the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son,” he fails to tell us precisely which son. But it seems more likely that he was concerned for Ishmael, because it was obvious that Sarah was insisting that he turn away his firstborn and Hagar.
This was a sentence almost certainly of death for Hagar and Ishmael. It is disappointing that Abraham does not express any concern for Hagar, only their son. Unfortunately, that kind of response can still be seen in families today.
It is only God’s promise to also make Ishmael the father of a nation that persuades Abraham to honor Sarah’s terrible demand. The story of Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness is a strange one, but probably no more improbable than some of the accounts we read in our daily newspapers.
It is the cry of the semi-abandoned Ishmael (which means “may God hear”) that brings the saving intercession of the Lord. Even when we mishandle the meeting of problems and concerns in the home, God can redeem our failures.
In his novel, Babbitt, Sinclair Lewis observes: “In fact, there was but one thing wrong with the Babbitt house: It was not a home.” Is yours? |
| 9/19/2007 |
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