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Abraham and the Promised Seed
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the power of God. By hearkening to the voice of Sarah and taking
Hagar as his wife Abraham failed to endure the test of his faith in
God’s unlimited power, and brought upon himself and upon Sarah
much unhappiness. The Lord intended to prove the firm faith and
reliance of Abraham upon the promises He had made him.
Hagar’s Haughtiness
Hagar was proud and boastful, and carried herself haughtily
before Sarah. She flattered herself that she was to be the mother of a
great nation God had promised to make of Abraham. And Abraham
was compelled to listen to complaints from Sarah in regard to the
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conduct of Hagar, charging Abraham with wrong in the matter.
Abraham is grieved and tells Sarah that Hagar is her servant, and
that she can have the control of her, but refuses to send her away,
for she is to be the mother of his child, through whom he thinks the
promise is to be fulfilled. He informs Sarah that he should not have
taken Hagar for his wife if it had not been her special request.
Abraham was also compelled to listen to Hagar’s complaints of
abuse from Sarah. Abraham is in perplexity. If he seeks to redress
the wrongs of Hagar he increases the jealousy and unhappiness of
Sarah, his first and much-loved wife. Hagar flees from the face
of Sarah. An angel of God meets her and comforts her and also
reproves her for her haughty conduct, in bidding her return to her
mistress and submit herself under her hands.
After the birth of Ishmael the Lord manifested Himself again to
Abraham and said unto him, “I will establish My covenant between
Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an
everlasting covenant.” Again the Lord repeated by His angel His
promise to give Sarah a son, and that she should be a mother of
many nations. Abraham did not yet understand the promise of God.
His mind immediately rested upon Ishmael, as though through him
would come the many nations promised, and he exclaimed, in his
affection for his son, “O that Ishmael might live before Thee!”
Again the promise is more definitely repeated to Abraham:
“Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call
his name Isaac: and I will establish My covenant with him for an
everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.” Angels are sent