Fallen Into Knowledge

The first in a series of posts during my blitz through the Bible.

I was struck by the way that Abram treats Hagar. Not well. That’s not quite it. Here is the passage that is bothering me:

Sarah saw that Abraham’s son by Hagar the Egyptian was laughing at Isaac. She said to Abraham, “Get rid of this slave and her son, because this slave’s son must never share the inheritance with my son Isaac.” Abraham was upset by this because of his son Ishmael. But God said to Abraham, “Don’t be upset about the boy and your slave. Listen to what Sarah says because through Isaac your descendants will carry on your name. Besides, I will make the slave’s son into a nation also, because he is your child.“ Early the next morning Abraham took bread and a container of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder. He also gave her the boy and sent her on her way. (Genesis 21:9-14)

Abram seems to be troubled with what he is about to do - and from my perspective for good reason. Why does God say that - well, abandoning Hagar - is okay? I really don’t know.

Here are some thoughts - not right thoughts, but possible implications of this passage:

Our (moral) responsibility to those in the “family” are different from our responsibility to those outside the “family.” Or, to but it more bluntly, we may treat “foreigners” in ways we can not treat those in the community. This troubles my sense of “equality” and “fairness,” although I recognize that such values are not likely derived from the Bible.

Perhaps we are to read God’s words as releasing Abram from his “paternal” (sic) responsibility toward Hagar and Ishmael. As in, God was taking over care of them (which he does.) This would be more likely if God’s “blessing” of Ishmael was not so harsh. On the other hand, there are many such “harsh” blessings in Genesis.

It still troubles me. I suspect my sense of “morality” is derived from sources other than the bible - like, say - american mythology. This sort of passage seems to provide an entry point into evaluating my ethical system, precisely because it conflicts with it.

Thoughts?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 21st, 2007 at 11:33 pm and is filed under Lent, Theology, church-ed. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.