Return and Submit (Genesis 16:9)

 

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Psalm 72

Genesis 16

Luke 1:39-56

Observance: Charles, King of England [martyr] (d. 1649)

Return and Submit (Genesis 16:9)

Poor old Hagar is one of the most hard-done-by women in the whole Bible. We have a few accounts of women suffering terribly in the Old Testament, and it is worth paying attention to them. Usually, when a women suffers, it is because God’s intentions have been disobeyed; the natural order breaks down. And when the natural order breaks down, the women seem to be the first to suffer, and the ones who suffer the worst.

The abuse of Hagar follows on immediately from the account of the covenant promise to Abram. It is up and down with this guy. Abram does something great, and then he does something awful. He is filled with assurances from God, and then he goes and behaves like nothing happened. Also, he hadn’t told Sarai (or explained strongly enough to her) that God kept reassuring them to live in faithful trust. And so, just as Eve presented Adam with the fruit and he sinned by going along with her, Abram lets down Sarai by going along with her plan (and, let us not forget, letting down Hagar even more).

Hagar, reduced now to surrogate mother, has not much left to hang onto in life. She can’t keep her distaste of Sarai off her face – and understandably so. Sarai, filled with shame at what she has done, takes it out on the poor girl, causing her to flee. Enter the angel of the Lord.

The way the angel of the Lord is spoken of here is fascinating. On the one hand, the angel is “of the Lord”, that is, somehow distinct from God. Yet on the other, Hagar is convinced she has been in touch directly with the Lord himself while in the presence of this angel. Whether you want to say this is an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ or not, the words have weight. And these are tough words to deal with.

In spite of how badly other people treat us, we have to stay faithful. Hagar is addressed as “servant of Sarai” – the abuse has not dissolved the relationship. Hagar must “return… and submit”. We each have a role to play and a duty to fulfil. The actions and abuses of others do not absolve us of our responsibilities. The faithful guard has to remain at his watchtower; the faithful servant has to serve; the child has to respect their parent, and the parent has to love their child. The sins of someone else must not give us the excuse to sin ourselves.

What pressures are you facing to abandon your responsibilities? What does God want you to do, and where is he leading you in your spiritual growth?

God of honour, who has made all things to serve you in love for your greater glory: heal the relationships in my life, so that fulfilling my responsibilities may be a source of joy for me and glory for you.