Sarai's Crooked Policy for the Accomplishment of the Promise

Ver. I — 3. We have had several renewals of promises to Abram; but as yet no performance of thein. Ten years had ehipsed in Canaan, and things remained as they were. Now, though Abram’s faith had been strengthened, yet that of Sarai fails. At her time of life, she thinks, there is no hope of seed in the ordinary way: if therefore the promise be fulfdled, it must be in the person of another. And having a handmaid whose name was Hagar, she thinks of giving her to xlbram to wife. Unbelief is very prolific of schemes; and surely this of Sarai is as carnal, as foolish, and as fruitful of domestic misery as could almost have been devised. Yet such was the influence of evil counsel, especially from such a quarter, that Abram hearkened to her voice.” The father of mankind sinned by hearkening to his wife, and now the father of the faithful follows his CKample. How necessary for those who stand in the nearest relations, to take

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heed of being snares instead of helps one to another! It was a double sin: first, of distrust; and secondly, of deviation fiom the original law ot” marriage, and which seems to have opened a door to polygamy. AVc never read of two wives before, except those of Lamech, who was of the descendents of Cain; but here the practice is coming into the church of God. Two out of three of the patriarchs go into it; yet neither of them of their own accord. There is no calculating in how many instances this ill example has been followed, or how great a matter this little fire kindled. The plea used by Sarai in this arTair shews how easy it is to err by a misconstruction of providence, and following that as a rule of conduct, instead of God’s revealed will. “The Lord (says she) hath restrained me from bearing:” and therefore I must contrive other means for the fulfilment of the promise! But why not enquire of the Lord? A& in the crowning of Adonijah, the proper authority was not consulted.

Vcr. A, 5. The consequence was what might have been expected: the young woman is elated with the honour done her, and her mistress is despised in her eyes. And now, when it is too late, Sarai repents, and complains to her husband; breaking out into intemperate language, c c ‘J accusing him as the cause, as though he must needs have secretly encouraged her: “IIy wrong be upon thee!” Nor did she stop here; but taking it for granted that her husband would not hear her, goes on to appeal to God himself: *’The Lord judge between me and thee!’’ Those who are first in doing wrong, are often first in complaining of the effects, and in throwing the blame upon others. Loud and passionate appeals to God, instead of indicating a good cause, are commonly the marks of a bad one.

Ver. 6. Abram on this vexing occasion is meek and gentle. He had learned that a soft answer turneth away wrath; and therefore he refrained from upbraiding his wife, as he might easih have done, preferring domestic peace to the vindication of himself, and the placing of the blame where it ought to have laid. It is doubtfid however, whether he did not yield too much in this case: for though, according to the custom of those times, Hagar was his wife only with respect to cohabitation, and without dividing the power Mith Sarai; yet she was entitled to protection, and should not have been given up to the will of one who on this occasion manifested nothing but jealousy, passion, and caprice. But he seems to have been brought into a situation wherein he was at a loss what

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to <lo; and thus, as Sarai is punished for tempting him, he also is punished with a disordered house for having yielded to the temptation. And now Sarai, incited by revenge, deals hardly with hagar; much more so, it is likely, than she ought: for though the young woman might have acted vainly and sinfully, yet her mistress is far from being a proper judge of the punishment M’hich she deserved. The consequence is, as might be expected, she leaves the family, and goes into a wilderness. Indeed it were “better to dwell in a wilderness than M’ith a contentious and angry woman.” But as Sarai and Abram had each reaped the fruits of their sin, Hagar in her turn reaps the fruit of hers. If creatures act disorderly, God will act orderly and justly in dealing with them.

Ver. 7, 8. Hagar ho^ever, though an Egyptian, shall reap advantage from her connexion with Abram’s family. Other heathens might have brought themselves into trouble, and been left to grapple with it alone; but to her an angel from heaven is sent, to direct and relieve her. Bending her course towards Egypt, her native country, and finding a spring of water in the wilderness, she sat down by it to refresh herself. While in this situation, she hears a voice, saying, *’ Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence comest

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thou; and whither wilt thou go?” She would perceive by this language that she was luioM’n, and conqUide that it M-as no common voice that spoke to her. He that spoke to her is called, “the angel of the Lord:” yet he afterwards says, ‘’/will multiply thy seed exceedingly.” It seems therefore not to have been a crc-ated angelj but the same divine personage who fre* (juently appeared to the fathers. In calling Hagar “Sarai’s maid,” he seems tacitly to disallow of the marriage, and to lead her mind hack to that humble character which she had formerly sustained. The questions put to her were close, but tender, and such as were fitly addressed to a person Hewing from trouble. The first might be answered, and was answered: “I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.” But with respect to the last, she is silent. We know our present grievances, and so can tell ‘’ whence we came,” much better than our future lot, or “whither we are going.” In many cases, if the truth were spoken, the answer would be, from bad to worse;. — At present, this yoor young woman seems to have been actuated by mere natural principles, those of fleeing from misery. In all her trouble, there appears nothing like true religion, or committing her way to the Lord: yet she is sought out of him m horn she sought not.

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Fer. 9, 10. The counsel of God here was, to retiiin and submit. Whorefore? She had done wrong in despising her mistress, and must now be humbled for it. Hard as this might appear, it was the counsel of wisdom and mercy: a connexion with the people of God, with all their faults, is far preferable to the best of this world, where God is unknown. If we have done wrong, whatever temptations or provocations we may have met with, the only way to peace and happiness is to retrace our footsteps, in repentance and submission. — For her encouragement, she is given to expect a portion of Abram’s blessing, of which she must have often heard, namely, a numerous offspring: and by the manner in which this was promised, “/will multiply thy seed,” she would perceive that the voice which spake to hei was no other than that of Abram’s God.

Fer. 11. AVith respect to the child of which she was then pregnant, it is foretold that it should be a son, and that his name should be called Ishmael, God shall hear, from the circumstance of God having ‘“heard her affliction.” God is not said to have heard her prayer; for it does not appear that she as yet had ever cai-. led upon his name: she merely sat bewailing herself, as not knowing what would become of her. Yet lo, the ear of mercy is open to affliction itself! The groans of the prisoner are heard of God; not only theirs who cry unto him, but in many cases, theirs who do not.

Ver. 12. The child is also characterized, as “a wild man;” a bold and daring character, living by his bow in the wilderness, and much engaged in war; ‘’his hand being (as it were) against every man, and every man’s hand against him:” yet that he should maintain his ground notwithstanding, “dwelling in the presence of all his brethren,” and dying at last i’n peace.* Nor was this prophecy merely intended to describe Ishmael, but his posterity. Bishop Newton, in his dissertations on the prophecies, has shewn that such has been the character of the Arabians, who descended from him, in all ages: a wild and warlike people, who under all the conquests of other nations by the great powers of the earth, remained unsubdued.

. Ve7 13, 1 4. The eflect of this divine appearance on riagar, was to bring her to the knowledge and love of God: the account, at least, wears such an aspect. She, who, for any thing that appears, had never prayed before, now addresses herself to the angel who spake to her,

* Sec chap x.w. 17. 18.

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and whom she considers as ‘Jehovah;” callinohim by an endearing name, the meaning of which is, thou God seest me. She did not mean by this to acknowledge his omniscience, so much as his mercy, in having beheld and pitied her affliction. On his withdraM^ing, she seems to have “looked after him,” with faith, and hope, and affectionate desire; and reflecting upon what had passed, is overcome with the goodness of God towards her, exclaiming, ‘•’ Have I also here looked after him that seeth me I” It was great mercy for God to have looked on her, and heard h&: afflictive moans; but it M’as greater to draw her heart to “look after him;” and greater still that he should do it heie, in the wilderness, when she had lived so many years where prayer was wont to be made, in vain. Under the influence of these impressions, she calls the well by which she sat down, “Beer-lahai-roi,” a name which would serve as a memorial of the mercy. Let this well, as if she had said, be called Jehovah’s well, the xvell of him that liveth, and seeth me! Thus God in mercy sets that right, which, through human follv, had been thrown into disorder. Hao-ar returns and submits, bears Abram a son when he is fourscore and six years old, and he, on being informed of the prophecy which went before, called his name Ishmael. D d