Genesis 16 – Sarah And Hagar
בייה
Dear Ones, we are entering Genesis 16. Our discussion focuses on Sarah and her maidservant, Hagar. Sarah is the younger daughter of Abraham’s brother Haran. The custom of the community was to marry the older daughter. Regardless, Abraham saw unique qualities in Sarah. She was a prophetess who gazed into the future and had Spiritual virtues.
Sarah’s tent had extraordinary qualities: Her tent resembled the Tabernacle in the wilderness where the Lord God dwelt among the people of Israel. A Cloud / the Shechinah covered the entrance to her tent. The doors to her tent were open to all. God Says, ‘My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all people.’ Isaiah 56.7
Sarah’s Challah blessed all who partook. Her dough brought satisfaction and prosperity. Sarah’s loaves resembled the show-bread in the Holy Temple. The Holy Temple was the source of prosperity for the entire nation of Yisroel.
Sarah’s Shabbat candles were lit on the eve of every Seventh-day. The flame lasted until just before Sabbath, like the weekly Torah Parshat. They were symbolic of the Western Lamp. The lit candles ushered in the day of rest, contentment, holiness, and remembrance of the seventh day of creation. When Sarah died, these manifestations stopped.
For ten years, Sarah was constrained from bearing Abraham, a son. Sarah chose to follow the custom of the land. Abraham could divorce her or take a second wife so his seed would continue. Why was Sarai prevented from having children?
Sarah and Abraham are not your everyday average husband and wife. They were the future Patriarch and Matriarch of Judaism. They are the Holy Couple. They have many followers that look up to them for spiritual direction. They are messengers of Prophecy. They are mystics. They are the doors that open to Judaism.
More is necessary from individuals given essential responsibilities. They observe higher levels of stringency. Their entire lives are under constant scrutiny. Every little detail is noticed. Later on, Rivkah and Rachel also experience constraints. They could not bear children.
Hagar was a woman of royalty, princes because she was the daughter of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Hagar was spiritually sensitive. Messengers / Angels from God visited her. Hagar was a gift to Sarah from Pharaoh. He observed the unique qualities of Sarah. Pharaoh wanted Sarah to mentor his daughter. Hagar studied to convert to Judaism so she could marry Abraham.
Hagar wore a variety of hats. She lived and served around Sarah, Abraham, and visiting dignitaries. She was accustomed to angels visiting. Can we imagine the uniqueness Hagar faced in her daily interpersonal and social relationships? Hagar’s life was complicated. How did Hagar unwind? Who did Hagar share her daily frustrations and accomplishments with? Who did Hagar take walks with? How did Hagar transition from being Pharaoh’s daughter, the princess of Egypt, to being Sarah’s maidservant? How did she adjust from being served in her father’s palace to living in tents and serving Sarah, the wife of a nomad? What was it like for Hagar to learn and follow the Spiritual Path of The Torah?
As time passed, pressure mounted between Hagar the maidservant and her Mistress Sarah. Holy Scripture Informs us, Sarai dealt harshly with her. She fled from her face. She is about to explode, so she runs away. As she was fleeing, she encountered an angel sent from The Lord.
Genesis 16.7
And an angel sent by The Lord found her by the spring of water in the desert, by the spring on the road to Shur. And the angel said, ‘Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where did you come from? and where will you go?’
And Hagar said I flee from the face of my mistress, Sarai.
And the angel sent by The Lord said to her, ‘Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her domination.’
Sometimes the pressure mounts for us. Tension, stress, and anxiety seem to be coming in from every direction. We become befuddled and confused. We don’t know what to do. We feel desperate! When David felt ruffed up by all that was happening in his world, he shared how he felt.
Psalms 55
David said, ‘My heart inside me is in anguish, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then, I would fly away and be at rest. Behold, then I would wander far off and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten to find a refuge from the windy storm and the tempest.’
Psalms 55.23
Transfer, transmit, remove, dismiss onto The Lord, what you are given for He is your support, your nourishment. He will not allow tottering, faltering, slipping, collapsing, declining for the righteous, to eternity.
Each of us has challenging days. Yet, If we read The Torah and The Psalms, they will help deliver us out of the anguish we feel. The angel asked Hagar, ‘Where did you come from? and Where will you go?’ Can anyone think of a better place to live than in the shadow of a Sage?
Our Sages share the story of a couple who lived in the town of Tzidon. They were married for ten years without being blessed with children. They consulted with Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a tzaddik, to discuss if they should separate. He advised them to joyfully celebrate their separation and divorce just as they celebrated their marriage. So the wife arranged a banquet with eating, drinking, excellent music and dancing. While they were eating and drinking, the husband proclaimed to his wife, ‘upon leaving my house; you may take along with you whatever object that is most precious to you.’ After the wife heard this proclamation, she fed her husband fine foods and poured him much wine. He became considerably intoxicated and fell asleep. She instructed her servants to carefully carry him to her father’s house. He woke up in the middle of the night. He found himself in a strange bed and a strange place. He wondered where am I? He called out, where am I? His wife answered, ‘didn’t you proclaim at the banquet that I could take the most valuable thing of all my possessions to my father’s house? Is there anything in the world more precious to me than you?’
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai learned of these events. He prayed on their behalf to The Lord. He sought The Lord that this couple might have children. His prayer was accepted. They were blessed with children.
Our Sages teach that The Lord desired Sarai to seek Him… She needed to seek The Lord. She was a prophetess with greater revelation than her husband, Abram. Also, Sarai’s and Abram’s backgrounds had a history of idolatrous relatives who were instructed to move away from and separate from their influences. Sarai and Abram needed time to ensure they would remain pure from their former homes of idolatry.
May we stay within Torah’s Guidelines Of righteous living and repentance. May we help others, May we bring peace and healing to our world. May this coming Sabbath and every Sabbath be a blessed Day.
Good Sabbath!
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
