Reading Genesis 18:16-21:34
Sandwiched between stories (note plural) of sin in Genesis 18 to 21 is the fulfilment of the covenant that God made with Abraham from the previous lessons in Chapter 15. The writer of Genesis is creating a mythology/legend to set up the stage for how the chosen descendants of Abraham will face many opposition.
To summarise there are 3 acts of sin here:
1. Personal sin: Lying by Sarah (Genesis 18) and Abraham (Genesis 20) among many other questionable acts
2. Generational sin: Incest in Lot’s family (Genesis 19)
3. Community sin: Immorality by Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19)
The writer of Genesis makes it clear to all of us that sin is still rampant, despite the flood and despite having chosen Abraham. In fact, the very people that chose to enact his salvation are the very ones who sin. This is a stark reminder to us that yes, we might be called to do God’s work, but this does not make us any different from the people that were wiped out by the flood or the people destroyed in Sodom and Gomorrah. The only difference between them and us is where we place our faith.
This is why when Abraham believed (in faith), it was counted to him as righteous and this was the key that separates Abraham from others. Not their inner person, but who they placed their faith in.
That aside because it is a recurring theme which we will revisit again, Chapter 21 is where we enter into a critical part of Genesis where we see a separation of generation (not the first time as we have seen this before with Noah’s children). But this is prominent because we see how God fulfils his covenant, while at the same time having to confront a potential crossroad that tests His character.
Now imagine with me for a moment that you are in God’s shoes. On the one hand, Abraham and Hagar has a child Ishmael and on the other, the “chosen line” Isaac born from Sarah. You have just made two covenants with Abraham that you will bless Abraham with heirs and make him the father of nations (note plural). How will you handle this? This text stick out as a sore thumb in the Torah because it practically divides 2 of the largest religions in the world.
Having made a covenant with Abraham, God seeks to fulfil it regardless if it’s through Isaac or through Ishmael. But we need to be clear of which covenant we are referring to, here we are referring to the covenant given through the sign of circumcision, i.e. that Abraham will be the father of nations. God ensures that He keeps the covenant by ensuring that Hagar and Ishmael are well protected. Genesis 21:13 “And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” To God, answering to His character, it is clear that a covenant is made, a covenant is kept.
The tragedy facing us is that so many religious people use this text to argue who is the rightful heir that God had chosen to carry out His redemptive plan. But that is not remotely the point of this Chapter. This Chapter evokes God’s unchanging character. The question on who is the rightful heir is left to whoever’s descendants is writing the story.
This part of the Old Testament is written to set the world in which Judaism, Islam and Christianity should follow and very often this mythological/legendary story is written with gaps. As with how the Potter-verse is riddled with gaps, the same can be said about the Biblical account. Therefore, what follows after Chapter 21 will be crucial in how the Biblical story continues and in this case, it follows the path of Isaac, and simply left Ishmael’s story as a footnote, never to be mentioned again. Therefore Christians accept that Isaac is the rightful heir. Suppose you are a Muslim, then your story would have carried on from Ishmael and you would have regarded Abraham’s first born as the rightful heir.
Regardless, who is right and who is wrong? Well, who do you consider is your saviour? Mine’s the descendant of Isaac because my Bible starts Chapter 22 with Isaac’s story. The point is, there is no use arguing because from the time Abraham (or Abram then) made the decision to have a son, this argument will have no resolution until the end of times. So, because of my faith, I will continue the study of Genesis following Isaac’s story, because that’s what the Bible tell me and yes, I acknowledge that this mythical story has plot holes, for which we may never have the answer to.
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