So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
It's no WONDER that they are MAD!
Posted on 01/12/2015 5:16:44 AM PST by Gamecock
“The angel of the Lord also said to her, ‘I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for a multitude’” (Gen. 16:10). - Genesis 16:7–10
Fleeing from Sarai, Hagar comes to a spring on “the way to Shur” (Gen. 16:7), which was the name of the desert bordering Egypt in the northwestern corner of the Sinai peninsula. Hagar was plainly seeking to return to her homeland (16:1), stopping at the spring for refreshment. The sons of Jacob newly freed from Egyptian slavery knew Sinai was a special place, as it is the locale where the Lord revealed the Law to Moses. Thus, a special revelation of God in that place during the time of Abraham would not have surprised them.
Verse 7 tells us “the angel of the Lord” found Hagar at the spring. This angel is no mere messenger of God, even though royal messengers in those days were treated with the same respect as the sender. When the angel of the Lord appears elsewhere in Scripture, people fall down in worship (see Judg. 6:22–24). After seeing the angel, Hagar addresses him as God (Gen. 16:13). This angel appeared mainly during the period recounted in Genesis and Judges, and, while the New Testament does not explicitly identify the angel with the Son of God, many in church history have identified this messenger as the pre-incarnate Christ.
The angel of the Lord asks Hagar from whence she came and where she is going, not because this data is unknown to God, for He does know who she is (v. 8). Instead, this questioning recalls God’s earlier interrogation of Adam and Cain (3:9; 4:9), further demonstrating His displeasure with all involved in Hagar’s flight.
Yahweh’s word to Hagar alludes to hardship and blessing. He tells her to submit again to Sarai, the Hebrew phrasing indicating mistreatment is still possible (16:9). Though Scripture gives us the right of self-defense (Ex. 22:2–3), it never suggests the church will be free from trouble. In fact, Peter tells us to bear with just and unjust masters alike (1 Peter 2:18–20). Even if Sarai’s harshness were to continue (and we do not know that it did), Hagar was called to submit.
Finally, the Lord pledges to bless Hagar with a multitude of sons (Gen. 16:10). In a time of dire need, God looks upon her with favor, a blessing that we will explore further tomorrow.
Coram Deo
John Calvin comments, “We are here taught with what clemency the Lord acts towards his own people, although they have deserved severe punishment.” Hagar was proud, and she suffered the consequences, yet God did not forget her. Likewise, we too may suffer the results of our sin, but that does not mean the Lord has abandoned us. Whether or not we are being disciplined by God today, we are to turn to Him in faith, for He longs to comfort His people.
Passages for Further Study
Isa. 49:8–26
Zech. 1:14–17
2 Cor. 1:3–7
2 Thess. 2:16–17
Ping
I have no doubt some one else could come up with a better comment than this,
but I was thinking even back then it was the women who was stirring up all of the problems, with their conniving’s, jealousy pride and deceit.
At the same time they are what it has always been all about, we put women first when we should put God first.
Hagar?
Hagar.
She is in the Bible.
Try Genesis chapters 16, 21 and again in Galatians 4.
I’m aware of that. I just didn’t expect to see her name in the article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagar
2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”
All means all.
ping
Galatians 4 helps us understand the significance of the symbolism of Hagar.
Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
“Sons of the free woman which is Jerusalem above”! Jerusalem which is above is the mother of us all!! Free and not slaves to laws and precepts.
Marah is where the Israelites after leaving Egypt encountered the bitter water. Moses threw in a log and the water became sweet.
Interesting that Hagar rested here because there was water but when the Israelites cam into the area the water was undrinkable. Later they came to Elim which had 12 wells.
Zec 12:8 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. Zec 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
What an extraordinary passage - This is YHWH speaking - but did you notice the tense and possessives? Who was pierced?
It's no WONDER that they are MAD!
*ducks for cover*
“Since the days of Adam, there has been hardly a mischief done in this world but a woman has been at the bottom of it
The Angel of the LORD
Once you know to look for it, it's everywhere.
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”
Were you thinking about a different Hagar? Haha!
More articles/sermons on studying God’s Truth in His Written Word.
Wow. Learning from God’s Word on FR. Awesome! Praise God!
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