Genesis 16, 20-23. Patriarchs and Prophets 145-152
"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...Sarah suggested...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,... Abraham's marriage with Hagar resulted in evil, not only to his own household, but to future generations." (PP 145). " Hagar became proud and boastful, and treated her mistress with contempt. Mutual jealousies disturbed the peace of the once happy home...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;... “When Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.”" (PP 145). "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,... Yet with the reproof there were mingled words of comfort. “The Lord hath heard thy affliction.” “I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.”" (PP 145).
So with Sarah's suggestion to marry her maid Hagar, even Abraham was subjected to indifference for the sin and the peace was ruined in the home. Sarah, who gave the idea now felt it was Abrahams fault and felt threatened by her rival which she told Abraham to have a child with. I mean, I'm not quite sure what she was expecting. There's clearly a lot of jealousy here. But even then, Hagar was still regarded as her maid by God, showing that it wasn't in God's will for this to happen, but He stilled showed mercy upon her.
"with the assurance that the future heir should be the child of Sarah. But Abraham did not yet understand the promise. His mind at once turned to Ishmael, clinging to the belief that through him God's gracious purposes were to be accomplished... in words that could not be mistaken: “Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish My covenant with him... “As for Ishmael,” He said, “I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him,...and I will make him a great nation.”" (PP 146). "The birth of Isaac, bringing, after a lifelong waiting, the fulfillment of their dearest hopes...But to Hagar this event was the overthrow of her fondly cherished ambitions. Ishmael, now a youth, had been regarded by all in the encampment as the heir of Abraham's wealth and the inheritor of the blessings promised to his descendants. Now he was suddenly set aside;...mother and son hated the child of Sarah...Ishmael dared openly to mock the heir of God's promise...she (Sarah) appealed to Abraham, urging that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away from the encampment. The patriarch was thrown into great distress. How could he banish Ishmael his son, still dearly beloved?...The Lord, through a holy angel, directed him to grant Sarah's desire;...for only thus could he restore harmony and happiness to his family.... Ishmael should not be forsaken by God; his life should be preserved, and he should become the father of a great nation. Abraham obeyed the angel's word, but it was not without keen suffering. The father's heart was heavy with unspoken grief as he sent away Hagar and his son." (PP 146).
This has me very intrigued... It reminds me of the story of Toya Todoroki, He was seen as his dads favorite unto Shoto was born and he was suddenly put aside. The only difference is Dad didn't seem to have any care, Abraham was grieved to have to send Hagar and Ishmael away because he still loved them. But it was the only way to restore peace.
"The instruction given to Abraham touching the sacredness of the marriage relation was to be a lesson for all ages...the rights and happiness of this relation are to be carefully guarded...Sarah was the only true wife of Abraham. Her rights as a wife and mother no other person was entitled to share... the Lord did not reprove her for requiring the banishment of her rival. Both Abraham and Sarah distrusted the power of God, and it was this error that led to the marriage with Hagar." (PP 147).
So I had to look it up, but reprove means to reprimand or argue basically. It was her right to be Abrahams right and it's not something that should be shared, however I don't think that means Sarah had the right to treat Hagar horribly. But the marriage between Abraham and Hagar was a result of distrusting God.
"He had waited long for the birth of the promised heir. At the command of God he had sent away his son Ishmael. And now, when the child so long desired was entering upon manhood, and the patriarch seemed able to discern the fruition of his hopes, a trial greater than all others was before him." (PP 148). "The command was expressed in words that must have wrung with anguish that father's heart: “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, ... and offer him there for a burnt offering.”... he was commanded to shed the blood of that son with his own hand. It seemed to him a fearful impossibility." (PP 148). "Satan was at hand to suggest that he must be deceived, for the divine law commands, “Thou shalt not kill,” and God would not require what He had once forbidden... If this promise was to be fulfilled through Isaac, how could he be put to death? Abraham was tempted to believe that he might be under a delusion...he went to the place where he had several times met the heavenly messengers, hoping to meet them again, and receive some further direction; but none came to his relief. Darkness seemed to shut him in; but the command of God was sounding in his ears, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest.” That command must be obeyed," (PP 148). " For a moment the father looked upon the dear face of his son, then turned tremblingly away...Should he awaken her, that she might once more embrace her child? Should he tell her of God's requirement? He longed to unburden his heart to her...but he was restrained by the fear that she might hinder him. Isaac was her joy and pride; her life was bound up in him, and the mother's love might refuse the sacrifice." (PP 148).
DAMN. I'm just.. confused really. I still don't know the context or understand why God made that command in the first place? The article didn't help me either a while back. It doesn't make sense to me.
"Side by side the father and the son journeyed in silence. The patriarch, pondering his heavy secret, had no heart for words. His thoughts were of the proud, fond mother, and the day when he should return to her alone. Well he knew that the knife would pierce her heart when it took the life of her son." (PP 151). "While his son and the young men were sleeping, he spent the night in prayer, still hoping that some heavenly messenger might come to say that the trial was enough, that the youth might return unharmed to his mother. But no relief came to his tortured soul...Satan was near to whisper doubts and unbelief, but Abraham resisted his suggestions...the patriarch, looking northward, saw the promised sign, a cloud of glory hovering over Mount Moriah, and he knew that the voice which had spoken to him was from heaven." (PP 151). "Then faith repeated the promise, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called”—a seed numberless as the grains of sand upon the shore. Isaac was the child of a miracle...Abraham grasped the divine word, “accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.” Hebrews 11:19." (PP 151). I'm still left with a lot of confusion. Why would God command to kill if He doesn't actually want Abraham to kill Isaac? This is very troubling.
"It was to impress Abraham's mind with the reality of the gospel, as well as to test his faith, that God commanded him to slay his son. The agony which he endured during the dark days of that fearful trial was permitted that he might understand from his own experience something of the greatness of the sacrifice made by the infinite God for man's redemption. No other test could have caused Abraham such torture of soul as did the offering of his son. God gave His Son to a death of agony and shame. The angels who witnessed the humiliation and soul anguish of the Son of God were not permitted to interpose, as in the case of Isaac. There was no voice to cry, “It is enough.”"" (PP 154). I skipped ahead because this question was driving me insane. I was looking through this chapter up and down to find an answer, and I finally found one that makes sense. God intended that Abraham feel the pain God feels when He gave His Son as a ransom for many. When you feel this pain, you're able to relate more to God, God wanted to show Abraham the gospel this way, He wanted Him to understand.
There was a really bad snowstorm today, I almost got into a car accident, apparently I was told by my dad after we got home because I was following him that I follow too closely. Which was surprising to me, but then it makes sense because LITERALLY NOTHING HAS EVER TAUGHT ME WHAT GOOD FOLLOWING DISTANCE LOOKS LIKE FROM THE DRIVER PERSPECTIVE!!!! I CAN'T JUST IMAGINE IITTTTTTTTT... So I still have no idea what 3 car lengths looks like from the driver seat. :).