Chapter 13—The Test of Faith
This chapter is based on
Genesis 16
;
17:18-20
;
21:1-14
;
22:1-19
.
Abraham had accepted without question the promise of a son, but
he did not wait for God to fulfill His word in His own time and way.
A delay was permitted, to test his faith in the power of God; but he
failed to endure the trial. Thinking it impossible that a child should
be given her in her old age, Sarah suggested, as a plan by which the
divine purpose might be fulfilled, that one of her handmaidens should
be taken by Abraham as a secondary wife. Polygamy had become so
widespread that it had ceased to be regarded as a sin, but it was no
less a violation of the law of God, and was fatal to the sacredness and
peace of the family relation. Abraham’s marriage with Hagar resulted
in evil, not only to his own household, but to future generations.
Flattered with the honor of her new position as Abraham’s wife, and
hoping to be the mother of the great nation to descend from him, Hagar
became proud and boastful, and treated her mistress with contempt.
Mutual jealousies disturbed the peace of the once happy home. Forced
to listen to the complaints of both, Abraham vainly endeavored to
restore harmony. Though it was at Sarah’s earnest entreaty that he
had married Hagar, she now reproached him as the one at fault. She
desired to banish her rival; but Abraham refused to permit this; for
Hagar was to be the mother of his child, as he fondly hoped, the son
of promise. She was Sarah’s servant, however, and he still left her to
the control of her mistress. Hagar’s haughty spirit would not brook
the harshness which her insolence had provoked. “When Sarai dealt
hardly with her, she fled from her face.”
She made her way to the desert, and as she rested beside a fountain,
lonely and friendless, an angel of the Lord, in human form, appeared
to her. Addressing her as “Hagar, Sarai’s maid,” to remind her of her
position and her duty, he bade her, “Return to thy mistress, and submit
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thyself under her hands.” Yet with the reproof there were mingled
words of comfort. “The Lord hath heard thy affliction.” “I will multiply
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