Yesterday I was listening to a podcast and the question was posed: in the kingdom, of the Biblical characters, with whom do you want to speak? Several people were mentioned and why, or what they would be asked. Got me to thinking. Who do I want to meet? Who has strongly influenced my faith? What questions would I ask? Immediately Hagar, then Sarah came to mind for very different reasons. They are such polar opposites yet both play powerful roles in Yah showing us who He is.
Sarai/Sarah: We first meet Sarai wife of Abram in Genesis 11. Jasher gives us background of Abram's father, Terah, being an idol maker for King Nimrod, this is important because Sarah is Terah's offspring as well. In Genesis 12 we read a story of Abram going to Egypt, but feared he would be killed and Sarai would be taken from him due to her great beauty. He claimed she was his sister. That word used for sister may be referring to a close family member, not necessarily sibling. Jasher 22:16 claims Sarai is Abram's niece. Scripture mentions her great beauty but doesn't dwell on it. Her righteous ways are emphasized. From ages and times given in Scripture we can determine Sarai was at least 40 years old, at this time, and perhaps as old as 65. Great beauty indeed. Oh, and Pharaoh piles wealth on Abram at the conclusion of this story...for her sake. Wait? What? Next, Genesis 13 Yah promises an inheritance to Abram's offspring... Hold on, Sarai is how old again? Between 40 and 65 at last count. And again in Genesis 15, Yah speaks of Abram's offspring, and how numerous they will be. Genesis 16, Sarai is barren, and so she brings out Hagar, her Egyptian maid, to further the plans for offspring. I realize in that culture, at that time, this may not have been such an off-the-rocker idea, but I don't still don't like it. If she were my friend, I'd probably advise against it. Anyhow, we all know how that panned out. When Hagar gives birth, Abram is 86 years old, making Sarai 76. Genesis 17, Abram is 99/100 years old, (Sarai 89/90), the covenant with Yah takes the next step of circumcision, with this comes the announcement that the offspring included in that covenant will come thru Sarai thus changing their names to reflect being the parents of many. Genesis 18 indicates Sarah is in menopause, past child bearing years. This is why she laughed at the thought of carrying a child. Genesis 20 finds Abraham once again being deceptive about his relationship to Sarah in order to save his life when Sarah was taken from him. What gives? She is 90 years old! Abraham explains here that Sarah is his half sister, same dad -different moms. Again she was returned along with gifts of great wealth. These two have a long time now been considered royalty. The nomadic, herdsmen King and his Queen who covenanted with YHVH. Genesis 21 Sarah conceives. They are sexually active, 90 and 100 years of age. I'm not 90, but I do have an experienced knowledge of what menopause is like and what changes and challenges come with it. I have questions for Sarah. Many questions. Anyhow Hagar's son is 14 when Sarah's son is born. Some time after, Sarah finds issue with Ishmael and demands he and his mother be removed from the camp and the inheritance. In Genesis 23 sadly Sarah dies. She is 127 years old. Abraham secures a burial place for Sarah through purchase, even though the land was promised to him as an inheritance. Jasher 23-24 gives a detailed story about Sarah being tested by the evil one, thus leading to her death. It also tells us Sarah had an elaborate funeral ceremony, as befitting a queen. Ok was Sarah so beautiful, and freakishly so well into her elderly years because of her faith and living it out in righteous behaviors? Several years ago I read a fictional book with Sarah as the main character. In this book it says Sarah drank a "potion" that caused her to remain young, beautiful, and barren. I found the reference for this idea in Jasher 2:19-22. This seems reasonable to me since we know she was raised by a family who served Nimrod, the author of Babylonian cult practices in his time. So, yes, more questions for Sarah. I have to be in awe of her faith and steadfastness throughout her life. Her security in her place in life must have been significant. She was the one instructing not only Hagar, but all the women of their camp of a large multitude. I truly wish Scripture gave us more about Sarah.
Hagar: Genesis 16 introduces us to Hagar. She is Sarai's Egyptian maid. The oral tradition says Hagar was the daughter of Pharoah, given to Sarah as a gift due to the powerful way Yah intervened when Sarai and Abram were in Egypt. The word wife is used when Abram takes Hagar, but we will soon see that although this elevated Hagar's station, this does not make her Sarai's equal even though she was likely a princess in her own right. Hagar conceived, and developed disdain for Sarai. Sarai felt the sting of this betrayal and was given permission from Abram to deal with Hagar as she saw fit. Sarai was harsh, pregnant Hagar ran away. The Messenger of Yahuah came to her and directed her to humble herself and return to Sarai...not Abram, Sarai. Sarai was the direct authority over Hagar in this hierarchy. The Messenger also gave Hagar a promise regarding the son she carried and his future. She called Yah, El Roi. The God who sees me. This story always breaks my heart for Hagar, and has given me such comfort. Although I didn't have her same experience, I can totally relate to the vulnerable, scared, alone woman who realizes Yah sees her, sees her pain, sees her distress...and comes with hope. I want to hug Hagar sitting by the spring desperate and alone. I love this story. Her faith must have been remarkable in order to humble herself to Sarai and receive spiritual instruction from her. Let that sink in... In Jasher 16 we learn that Sarai had been instructing Hagar in Sarai's "good ways". The way of righteous living, being a Godly wife. Remember Scripture emphasized Sarai's holiness, not her beauty. (Both Sarai and Hagar are judging Sarai's barrenness as a punishment from Yah. So maybe contention remained between them.) Abram is 85 years old, making Sarai 75 years old. When Sarah does conceive and give birth(Genesis 21), as mentioned before, Hagar's son, Ishmael, is 14 years old. Sarah saw this youngster mocking her son and called for Ishmael and Hagar to be removed from the camp and inheritance. This grieved Abraham, he loved Ishmael. Again Hagar finds herself in the wilderness, afraid, alone in her responsibility to care for her son, (who was probably 19 years old at this point,) without resources, vulnerable. As she wept, Yah heard Ishmael's voice ( was he praying?), and the Messenger of Yah called to her, and again told of Ishmael's future and gave her hope. Jubilees 19 says Hagar died before Sarah. In Jasher 25 and Jubilees 19 we learn Abraham and Hagar had other children besides Ishmael. Sure wish we knew more about Hagar.
****Disclaimer**** In no way am I saying the information found in the extra biblical texts are facts, or scripture. I do read them to glean what might help in understanding the actual scriptures.
A work in progress
Teresa
https://womeninscripture.com/hagar-friend-or-foe/
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