Welcome to my summer series called. "Genesis Roots." The word genesis means origin, beginning, or birth. Root, in the context in which I'm writing, means essential core or source of life. In a way, the roots of the story of monotheistic faith rest in the stories we find in Genesis.
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all claim Abraham as a highly favored patriarch in their religious family tree. If you are unfamiliar with the story of Abraham (and Sarah) you may want to take some time and begin reading in Genesis 12 (then skip to chapters 15, 16, 17, 18:1-15, skip to 21) to get a look at their marriage and to find out how they came to be mired down in the very complicated relationship with Hagar, the Egyptian slave-woman.
We begin this summer series with one of the Abraham stories that paint neither him nor his wife, Sarah, in a favorable light. I find Abraham weak and pliable, Sarah jealous and cruel! Their treatment of Hagar and Abraham's son, Ishmael, shocks my 21st century sensibilities. But I don't live in their context. Perhaps I am missing the "vision" of God's plan that Sarah has and the great "faith" that Abraham has that God will save. Hmmm, maybe, either way it is a fascinating story ...
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all claim Abraham as a highly favored patriarch in their religious family tree. If you are unfamiliar with the story of Abraham (and Sarah) you may want to take some time and begin reading in Genesis 12 (then skip to chapters 15, 16, 17, 18:1-15, skip to 21) to get a look at their marriage and to find out how they came to be mired down in the very complicated relationship with Hagar, the Egyptian slave-woman.
We begin this summer series with one of the Abraham stories that paint neither him nor his wife, Sarah, in a favorable light. I find Abraham weak and pliable, Sarah jealous and cruel! Their treatment of Hagar and Abraham's son, Ishmael, shocks my 21st century sensibilities. But I don't live in their context. Perhaps I am missing the "vision" of God's plan that Sarah has and the great "faith" that Abraham has that God will save. Hmmm, maybe, either way it is a fascinating story ...
To set this scene for our Hagar and Ishmael passage, read Genesis 21:8-13 (NET)
The child grew and was weaned. Abraham prepared a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah noticed the son of Hagar the Egyptian—the son whom Hagar had borne to Abraham—mocking. So she said to Abraham, “Banish that slave woman and her son, for the son of that slave woman will not be an heir along with my son Isaac!” Sarah’s demand displeased Abraham greatly because Ishmael was his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be upset about the boy or your slave wife. Do all that Sarah is telling you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted. But I will also make the son of the slave wife into a great nation, for he is your descendant too.”
God says, "don't worry." This seems a tall order for Abraham. We are talking about his son. And yet God has spoken, "don't worry." God takes care of Ishmael and, although his people won't be the "chosen" people, they will be a great nation. Just don't worry. hmmmm ...
- Have you ever been where Abraham and Sarah are?
- Have you ever been where Hagar and Ishmael are?
- Have your own poor choices OR the poor choices of people close to you ever caused chaos in your life?
- Have you ever heard God speak "don't worry" into your chaos?
- What helps you to trust that, with God, "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well" in the words of Julian of Norwich, a Christian mystic from the 14th century?
When you have pondered chaos and are ready to pray with our passage for the week, I invite you to spend a few moments preparing your heart to worship God as you engage with the text via Lectio Divina. Breathe deeply and envision God’s Spirit filling you with the ability to trust God's word with each breath you take! Settle into a place of confidence within yourself with a simple breath prayer. Use this one or create your own.
Breathe in (who do you worship?) ... Creator God, Eternal One
Breathe out (what do you need?) ... Into my Chaos, Speak Life
and when you are ready to move deeper into the text, pray ... Creator God, Eternal One, come and speak life into my chaos. As I pray with your holy Word, may I hear your voice as Hagar did, calling me, comforting me, and revealing the path to life. In Christ, Amen.
Step 1: Lectio … Reading
Read Genesis 21:14-21 (NET) slowly to yourself taking in the story.
Listen for a word or phrase that catches your attention.
Silently focus on that word or phrase or perhaps an image that is forming.
Sit with your word or phrase or image for as long as seems good to you.
Allow it to sift through your heart and mind.
Let the story come alive in your soul through that word, phrase, image.
Read Genesis 21:14-21 (NET) slowly to yourself taking in the story.
Listen for a word or phrase that catches your attention.
Silently focus on that word or phrase or perhaps an image that is forming.
Sit with your word or phrase or image for as long as seems good to you.
Allow it to sift through your heart and mind.
Let the story come alive in your soul through that word, phrase, image.
Click here to read in original Lectio Version: The VOICE Bible
Early in the morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He put them on her shoulders, gave her the child, and sent her away. So she went wandering aimlessly through the wilderness of Beer Sheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she shoved the child under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down by herself across from him at quite a distance, about a bowshot away; for she thought, “I refuse to watch the child die.” So she sat across from him and wept uncontrollably.
But God heard the boy’s voice. The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and asked her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Don’t be afraid, for God has heard the boy’s voice right where he is crying. Get up! Help the boy up and hold him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God enabled Hagar to see a well of water. She went over and filled the skin with water, and then gave the boy a drink.
God was with the boy as he grew. He lived in the wilderness and became an archer. He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother found a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Early in the morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He put them on her shoulders, gave her the child, and sent her away. So she went wandering aimlessly through the wilderness of Beer Sheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she shoved the child under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down by herself across from him at quite a distance, about a bowshot away; for she thought, “I refuse to watch the child die.” So she sat across from him and wept uncontrollably.
But God heard the boy’s voice. The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and asked her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Don’t be afraid, for God has heard the boy’s voice right where he is crying. Get up! Help the boy up and hold him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God enabled Hagar to see a well of water. She went over and filled the skin with water, and then gave the boy a drink.
God was with the boy as he grew. He lived in the wilderness and became an archer. He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother found a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Step 2: Meditatio … Receiving
Continue to focus on your word or phrase or image.
Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings it evokes.
What memories come to your mind?
Ask God to continue to speak to you and reveal your path.
Listen and watch for God’s movement as you move through your day
Step 3: Oratio … Responding
Consider any desires that have been awakened by your prayer
Perhaps you have found an area of your life that needs attention
Do not rush ... wait and listen as God forms your prayers and desires
Step 4: Contempatio … Resting
Allow your word, phrase or image to fall away ...
Allow yourself to rest in the silence ...
When you feel the time to move on ...
If images are a pathway to God for you, you may want to pray while "gazing" upon this painting of Hagar and Ishmael in the desert ...How does this image resonate with what has arisen within you?
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| Hagar Giving Ishmael Water from the Miraculous Well in the Desert, Charles Paul Langdon, 18th c, Public Domain, wikimedia commons |
Finish your time of lectio divina, praying with scripture, with this complete prayer of Julian of Norwich:
In you, Father all-mighty, we have our preservation and our bliss.
In you, Christ, we have our restoring and our saving.
You are our mother, brother, and Saviour.
In you, our Lord the Holy Spirit, is marvellous and plenteous grace.
You are our clothing; for love you wrap us and embrace us.
You are our maker, our lover, our keeper.
Teach us to believe that by your grace all shall be well, and all shall be well,
and all manner of things shall be well. Amen
In you, Christ, we have our restoring and our saving.
You are our mother, brother, and Saviour.
In you, our Lord the Holy Spirit, is marvellous and plenteous grace.
You are our clothing; for love you wrap us and embrace us.
You are our maker, our lover, our keeper.
Teach us to believe that by your grace all shall be well, and all shall be well,
and all manner of things shall be well. Amen
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