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Between Sarah and Hagar, Between Scylla and Charybdis
Tuesday, April 28, 2015 8:47
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According to Chapter 16, verse 1 of Genesis, Sarai was barren when Abram received the Revelation of the Covenant, as described in Chapter 15, verses 12-18 of Genesis; immediately after which the Torah reports that Hagar became pregnant (Chapter 16, verse 4) with Ishmael (Chapter 16, verse 11).
And, given that it had been Revealed to Abram that ‘his heir would be’ “of his own flesh and blood” (Chapter 15, verse 4), the most reasonable conclusion for Abram (and Hagar) to make, since Sarai had remained barren, was that Ishmael would be the ‘son of the Covenant’ (Chapter 15, verse 18; with, however, no specific requirement of circumcision); hence the arrogance of Hagar with regards to Sarai (Chapter 16, verses 4-6); immediately after which the Torah reports that Hagar received the Vision (Chapter 16, verse 13) later received by Jacob (Chapter 28, verses 12-17 and Chapter 32, verse 31), and later referred to as the Vision of the “Son of man”.
But Abram was wrong in assuming that this was the only—or the primary—Covenant that would be established with the Creator:
According to Chapter 17, verse 1 of Genesis, another Covenant was established between Abraham and the Creator; this second Covenant taking precedence over the first Covenant and pertaining to the descendants of Abraham through Sarah. And, although the requirement of circumcision was specified only in relation to this second Covenant (Chapter 17, verse 9); the Torah then reports (Chapter 17, verse 23 of Genesis) that Abraham circumcised “his son Ishmael, all those born in his household, and all those he had bought…in accordance with God’s Command to him.” In other words, Abraham considered all of his sons to be, in one way or another, sons of the Covenant.
From a personal as well as an historical perspective, however, this conflict between Sarah and Hagar is at the foundation of the conflict between Jews and Arabs and Judaism and Islam, as is presently being manifested in the conflict over Jerusalem.
But, from Abraham’s perspective, both Jews and Arabs are the sons of the Covenant that was established with him by the Creator; a perspective which appears to be completely disregarded by both Jews and Arabs in the current political-military conflict over Jerusalem manifested in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. (In other words, the current conflict over Jerusalem is the manifestation of the perspectives of Sarah and Hagar; not the perspective of Abraham.)
From a much more personal perspective, however, Abraham’s efforts to satisfy the requirements of both Sarah and Hagar were probably something like trying to navigate safe passage between Scylla and Charybdis…
With, however, no evidence in the Torah that Abraham ever succeeded in his efforts (Chapter 21, verses 10-14 of Genesis).
(Nor is it a mere coincidence that Jesus was crucified between two thieves.)
Michael (Chapter 12, verse 1 of the Book of Daniel, Sura 2, verse 98 of the Quran, Column XVII of the Scroll of the War of the Sons of Light & Chapter 3, verse 12 of the Revelation of John) for, especially:
Sarah–>Elijah–>John the Baptist–>Mohammed–>Elizabeth (Chapter 12, verse 13 of the Book of Daniel and Chapter 11, verse 14 & Chapter17, verses 10-13 of the Gospel of Matthew) and:
Hagar–>the apostle Mary–>Danielle (1982-1987)
(March, 1987—the http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap960705.html)
and Seven Women, Seven Churches and Seven Sisters )
Isaac–>the apostle John–>Robin (1986)
Ishmael–>the apostle Peter–>Cindy (1992)
Jacob–>the apostle Thomas–>Linda (1987-
Esau–>the apostle, Judas–>Susan (1970)
Isaiah’s wife–>the apostle James–>Kimberly (2000-
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