On Sunday, October 23rd, our lesson was on Moses and Pharaoh. Below, you will see the outline of the lesson in small group. We ask you to read through it and then comment on what stood out to you. By commenting, we will know that you have read through the material and interacted with the lesson. You can comment as "anonymous" and list your initials and we will know who it is; thank you.
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Moses and Pharaoh
Bible Text:
Exodus 2:23–24; 5:1–9; 6:1–9; 7:14–12:32; 12:33–42; 14:21–31
Lesson Focus:
God delivers the people from suffering.
Big Question:
Why doesn't God fix all the injustice in the world?
Key Words:
PLAGUE, PASSOVER, DELIVERANCE
Definition of Key Words
PLAGUE: any large-scale calamity.
PASSOVER: a Jewish festival commemorating the deliverance of their people from slavery in Egypt.
DELIVERANCE: the act of releasing or rescuing.
The Highlights
Moses serves as God's mediator and the Hebrew people's enfleshed liberator and leader.
The fantastic plague narrative shows that the God of the Israelites is sovereign not only over the Hebrew people, but over the Egyptians (i.e., the world) as well.
Yahweh is a God who rescues, makes relationships, and establishes covenants.
Yahweh is powerful, and divine power is shown not in domination, as exercised by Pharaoh, but through deliverance.
God's purposes continue to be achieved through people—reluctant ones, even!
God is involved in the sociopolitical world in profound ways.
The story of the Exodus undergirds everything that comes after it in scripture. From now on, God is known as the creating, redeeming, and sustaining God.
DEEP THOUGHTS
The setting of the Exodus undergirds everything that comes after it in scripture. God's action in this world to save his people from bondage to slavery becomes the story. God becomes known as the creating, redeeming, and sustaining God. And Moses becomes God's flesh-and-blood liberator, leader, and lawgiver.
God has already called Moses in the famous scene of the burning bush. His "call narrative" is wonderful on many levels, not the least of which is that he argues and argues and argues with God. And God listens. God responds. There is discussion. The plan is modified somewhat. Finally God says, "Go!" And Moses goes. The divine trait of listening to the people is highlighted throughout this story. It is not only Moses God listens to, but the people in general. "Out of the slavery their cry for help rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God looked upon the Israelites, and God took notice of them" (Exodus 2:23–25). God is identified as the God who entered into the covenant with their ancestors. This is our clue that the promise of blessing will be furthered yet again.
The plague narrative is always interesting. It is so fantastic and surreal! The point of it is not found in Bible notes or late-night TV documentaries insisting that scientific evidence of natural disasters around this time in history exists. The point is that it is fantastic. This God of the Israelites is sovereign not only over the Hebrew people, but over the Egyptians (i.e., the world) as well. These are not magic tricks Moses brings on in the name of the Lord—Pharaoh's magicians cannot match them when the ante is upped. This is the power of the one true God. From this story comes the tradition of Passover, with its obvious links in the New Testament. This is the historical background of the celebratory feast that takes place each spring in the homes of our Jewish friends and neighbors. And it is our story too.
God shines from the pages of scripture in this story. As the people begin their wilderness wanderings after their miraculous crossing of the sea, Moses begins to talk with them more about the God who saved them. The themes are unmistakable, and they will continue to be spelled out again and again through the wilderness wanderings. Yahweh is a God who rescues, makes relationships, and establishes covenants. Yahweh is powerful, and divine power is shown not in domination, as exercised by Pharaoh, but through deliverance. God's purposes continue to be achieved through people—reluctant ones, even! God is involved in the sociopolitical world in profound ways. These are the claims of a rescued people. Though the chosen people do not always confess it—rather, they complain much of the time—the setting of the Exodus undergirds everything that comes after it in scripture. From now on, God is known as the creating, redeeming, and sustaining God.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Make-Up: October 16th, 2011 - Joseph
On Sunday in small group, we took a look at Joseph. It is a long story (14 chapters). One of the groups had a great discussion on favortism and if/how parents show it to their children. At least how the students in the group felt there is favortism shown to their siblings. We asked you to familiarize with the story, read the descriptions below and comment on what/how the story means/relates to you.
Bible Text:
Genesis 37–50
Lesson Focus:
Joseph trusted God, in the good and bad times.
Big Question:
Why should I trust God?
Key Words:
DREAMS, SLAVERY, FORGIVENESS
DEFINITION OF KEY WORDS
DREAMS: thoughts, visions, or mental images that occur during sleep and can relay a message. Joseph interpreted his dreams and the dreams of others.
SLAVERY: a condition of bondage when a person is in servitude to another; drudgery, toil. Joseph was sold as a slave by his own brothers.
FORGIVENESS: relief from a debt or a weakness; pardon; wiping the slate clean. Joseph forgave his brothers when they thought that would never happen.
DEEP THOUGHTS ON JOSEPH
The story of Joseph is a masterpiece of Hebrew and world literature. With a fabulous plot, intrigue, and suspense, it is a story suitable for reading on a lovely or rainy (confirmation) afternoon! Children love it, composers of music love it, artists love it, and clearly, the biblical writers found it to be a rich source of teaching about God and humanity. In terms of the biblical story line, it provides a bit of a bridge between the books of Genesis and Exodus, beginning with the ever-increasing chosen family in Canaan and ending with the family-turned-nation residing in the best part of Egypt.
Again, we find the familiar themes of deception, favoritism, and the pain of family relations rearing their ugly heads. But in this story, God retreats a bit (not in the sense of vanishing from the story)—God's actions are more providentially inclined rather than interventionally inclined. There are no extraordinary theophanies or dramatic revelations in this story—no visits from angels, no long talks with the Divine, no mysterious wrestling in the dead of night. Instead, God appears indirectly in the claims made about Joseph and in the divine communication Joseph has via his dreams. Joseph is considered to be wise, and that indicates that God is with him, we are told. He also has both the gift of having dreams filled with portents of the future and divine communication and the gift of dream interpretation. The meaning of this is ambiguous in the text. Clearly God is working with Joseph in these more hidden ways.
Just as Jacob loved Rachel to the disappointment of Leah, he now loves Joseph, Rachel's son, to the pain of Joseph's siblings. Joseph is given a special robe and special favors, and his brothers hate him for it. They come up with a plan to rid themselves of their pesky little brother who was always telling them of the dreams he had of his own greatness and their lack. Once Joseph is gone, however, their father is never the same, and Joseph's fate turns out far differently than they supposed. Again, providentially so.
Joseph is sold into slavery, but his intelligence and rather charmed life gets him out of that quickly. He is favored by others and enjoys quick success. His only setback is a time in prison, falsely accused of behaving improperly with Potiphar's wife. But even in prison, God is with Joseph, and Joseph remains faithful to God. He waits patiently for things to be righted; and they are, in rather dramatic fashion. Joseph rises to second place in the land of Egypt, a position of amazing power, gained because of his gift at dream interpretation (i.e., because God is with him).
The story is long. In the end, Joseph preserves the lives of the Egyptians (and therefore the world) and his family, God's chosen ones, with his economic plan designed to keep everyone eating during a long famine. God's promise for goodness doesn't happen off in a corner, but plays itself out in the world at large. Throughout the story, the narrator is careful to have us know that it is not Joseph himself who works these wonders, but rather God working through Joseph.
To what degree is God involved in personal, familial, or national history? The story of Joseph makes its claims. All of us have stories as well. The Bible's claim is that God is at work in the ugly places of jealousy and heartaches and breaks. God works with our neighbors' and our own shortcomings and sins. Most importantly, this story emphasizes that divine intent is always for good, as Joseph says at the end, even when our intent is not.
The stage is set for Exodus. The chosen family-nation is in Egypt. They are enjoying the best and most fruitful land. There has been some degree of reconciliation. There are 12 sons and probably many wives and nearly countless children. God's promise to Abraham continues to be realized. Soon Old Abraham will have as many descendants as the stars and grains of sand. What will this mean for the world? What does it mean for us today?
Bible Text:
Genesis 37–50
Lesson Focus:
Joseph trusted God, in the good and bad times.
Big Question:
Why should I trust God?
Key Words:
DREAMS, SLAVERY, FORGIVENESS
DEFINITION OF KEY WORDS
DREAMS: thoughts, visions, or mental images that occur during sleep and can relay a message. Joseph interpreted his dreams and the dreams of others.
SLAVERY: a condition of bondage when a person is in servitude to another; drudgery, toil. Joseph was sold as a slave by his own brothers.
FORGIVENESS: relief from a debt or a weakness; pardon; wiping the slate clean. Joseph forgave his brothers when they thought that would never happen.
DEEP THOUGHTS ON JOSEPH
The story of Joseph is a masterpiece of Hebrew and world literature. With a fabulous plot, intrigue, and suspense, it is a story suitable for reading on a lovely or rainy (confirmation) afternoon! Children love it, composers of music love it, artists love it, and clearly, the biblical writers found it to be a rich source of teaching about God and humanity. In terms of the biblical story line, it provides a bit of a bridge between the books of Genesis and Exodus, beginning with the ever-increasing chosen family in Canaan and ending with the family-turned-nation residing in the best part of Egypt.
Again, we find the familiar themes of deception, favoritism, and the pain of family relations rearing their ugly heads. But in this story, God retreats a bit (not in the sense of vanishing from the story)—God's actions are more providentially inclined rather than interventionally inclined. There are no extraordinary theophanies or dramatic revelations in this story—no visits from angels, no long talks with the Divine, no mysterious wrestling in the dead of night. Instead, God appears indirectly in the claims made about Joseph and in the divine communication Joseph has via his dreams. Joseph is considered to be wise, and that indicates that God is with him, we are told. He also has both the gift of having dreams filled with portents of the future and divine communication and the gift of dream interpretation. The meaning of this is ambiguous in the text. Clearly God is working with Joseph in these more hidden ways.
Just as Jacob loved Rachel to the disappointment of Leah, he now loves Joseph, Rachel's son, to the pain of Joseph's siblings. Joseph is given a special robe and special favors, and his brothers hate him for it. They come up with a plan to rid themselves of their pesky little brother who was always telling them of the dreams he had of his own greatness and their lack. Once Joseph is gone, however, their father is never the same, and Joseph's fate turns out far differently than they supposed. Again, providentially so.
Joseph is sold into slavery, but his intelligence and rather charmed life gets him out of that quickly. He is favored by others and enjoys quick success. His only setback is a time in prison, falsely accused of behaving improperly with Potiphar's wife. But even in prison, God is with Joseph, and Joseph remains faithful to God. He waits patiently for things to be righted; and they are, in rather dramatic fashion. Joseph rises to second place in the land of Egypt, a position of amazing power, gained because of his gift at dream interpretation (i.e., because God is with him).
The story is long. In the end, Joseph preserves the lives of the Egyptians (and therefore the world) and his family, God's chosen ones, with his economic plan designed to keep everyone eating during a long famine. God's promise for goodness doesn't happen off in a corner, but plays itself out in the world at large. Throughout the story, the narrator is careful to have us know that it is not Joseph himself who works these wonders, but rather God working through Joseph.
To what degree is God involved in personal, familial, or national history? The story of Joseph makes its claims. All of us have stories as well. The Bible's claim is that God is at work in the ugly places of jealousy and heartaches and breaks. God works with our neighbors' and our own shortcomings and sins. Most importantly, this story emphasizes that divine intent is always for good, as Joseph says at the end, even when our intent is not.
The stage is set for Exodus. The chosen family-nation is in Egypt. They are enjoying the best and most fruitful land. There has been some degree of reconciliation. There are 12 sons and probably many wives and nearly countless children. God's promise to Abraham continues to be realized. Soon Old Abraham will have as many descendants as the stars and grains of sand. What will this mean for the world? What does it mean for us today?
Monday, October 10, 2011
Make-Up: October 9, 2011 - The Flood
This week for the makeup; we have put up the study guide that Carrie Lucas' group used in class. We asked you to read through her portion; my additional comments and then you can click on the comment section and give us a paragraph on what new insights that you gained and what they mean to you.
Our Lesson
Big Question: What does an old covenant have to do with me?
The Noah story is one of realism and promise. It’s a story of redemption, as God wills to save, not destroy.
Noah “walked with God” before the flood. However, God was very displeased with the wickedness of the rest of humankind. He found Noah’s family to be the only righteous people left in creation. God instructed Noah and his family to build an ark and take 2 of every animal with them. Noah’s family were saved from the waters of the flood and became partners with God in the first universal covenant.
The flood allows a new beginning. The sign of the covenant, a rainbow, is a reminder to God, not humanity, of the promise to never flood creation again.
Read- Bible Text: Genesis 6-9
Opening Prayer
Creator God, thank you for making the promise with Noah and with everyone who comes after him—the promise where we were washed clean and go to start over again. Thank you for the new chances we get every day when we sin and you forgive us. Let us feel the goodness that comes with your promises. Help us reflect your image in which we were created, even though we sin and have many flaws and limitations. Amen.
Definitions of Key Words
WALK WITH GOD: remaining faithful to God even when others around you are not; trusting and believing in God.
COVENANT: a promise or binding agreement between two parties. When God makes a covenant, it is very one-sided, with the people of God getting the full benefit.
RESTORATION: bringing something back to its former condition; reinstatement. Through the flood, God restored an understanding of the rules and boundaries we live by. It was a new beginning, living in the grace and forgiveness of God.
Didjaknow?
• The ark was built of cypress wood, per God’s instructions.
• It rained for 40 days and 40 nights.
• There were a total of 8 people on the ark.
• Speaking of “promises” and “covenants”…When children are baptized, their parents bring them to the font and make important promises to bring the child up in the Christian faith. Your parents are keeping their promise…because you are here today! When you see your parents next, be sure to thank them for “walking with God”.
• WATER is the earthly element in baptism. God uses it to was away sin and drown the “old Adam” or “old Eve” in the baptized person. Water in itself cannot do it—baptism is water connected to the power of God’s word, and it is received by God’s gift of faith.
The FLOOD
As humans who sin and have already fallen, we count on God’s supernatural strength to save us from floods of many kinds, including those we bring on ourselves by our sin.
• What are the “floods” in your life?
• Do you bring those concerns to God?
Prayer (Big Sis mention their Lil Sis name and visa versa)
Amazing God, thank you for bringing us to this safe place. Thank you for (my big sis’ name or my lil sis’ name). Help us realize that your promise of salvation is real and is for us today and every day. We pray all this in your name. Amen.
Student Sheet-Read bullet points aloud.
• What is the most surprising information to you on this list?
• What is the most reassuring information?
• How is God’s covenant with Noah also a covenant with you?
Best/Worst (hi’s / low’s) from your week?
Closing Prayer – light candles & think of a person you know whose life seems to be overwhelmed by a “flood”.
God of life, we thank you for forming a covenant with us. Extend that unconditional love to the ones we hold up in prayer today. Help us learn how to be a blessing to them in order to help them get out of a mess and start over with a new beginning. Amen.
MAY YOU ALWAYS WALK WITH GOD AND EXPERIENCE GOD’S COVENANT PROMISE OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND FORGIVENESS. HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!
Our Lesson
Big Question: What does an old covenant have to do with me?
The Noah story is one of realism and promise. It’s a story of redemption, as God wills to save, not destroy.
Noah “walked with God” before the flood. However, God was very displeased with the wickedness of the rest of humankind. He found Noah’s family to be the only righteous people left in creation. God instructed Noah and his family to build an ark and take 2 of every animal with them. Noah’s family were saved from the waters of the flood and became partners with God in the first universal covenant.
The flood allows a new beginning. The sign of the covenant, a rainbow, is a reminder to God, not humanity, of the promise to never flood creation again.
Read- Bible Text: Genesis 6-9
Opening Prayer
Creator God, thank you for making the promise with Noah and with everyone who comes after him—the promise where we were washed clean and go to start over again. Thank you for the new chances we get every day when we sin and you forgive us. Let us feel the goodness that comes with your promises. Help us reflect your image in which we were created, even though we sin and have many flaws and limitations. Amen.
Definitions of Key Words
WALK WITH GOD: remaining faithful to God even when others around you are not; trusting and believing in God.
COVENANT: a promise or binding agreement between two parties. When God makes a covenant, it is very one-sided, with the people of God getting the full benefit.
RESTORATION: bringing something back to its former condition; reinstatement. Through the flood, God restored an understanding of the rules and boundaries we live by. It was a new beginning, living in the grace and forgiveness of God.
Didjaknow?
• The ark was built of cypress wood, per God’s instructions.
• It rained for 40 days and 40 nights.
• There were a total of 8 people on the ark.
• Speaking of “promises” and “covenants”…When children are baptized, their parents bring them to the font and make important promises to bring the child up in the Christian faith. Your parents are keeping their promise…because you are here today! When you see your parents next, be sure to thank them for “walking with God”.
• WATER is the earthly element in baptism. God uses it to was away sin and drown the “old Adam” or “old Eve” in the baptized person. Water in itself cannot do it—baptism is water connected to the power of God’s word, and it is received by God’s gift of faith.
The FLOOD
As humans who sin and have already fallen, we count on God’s supernatural strength to save us from floods of many kinds, including those we bring on ourselves by our sin.
• What are the “floods” in your life?
• Do you bring those concerns to God?
Prayer (Big Sis mention their Lil Sis name and visa versa)
Amazing God, thank you for bringing us to this safe place. Thank you for (my big sis’ name or my lil sis’ name). Help us realize that your promise of salvation is real and is for us today and every day. We pray all this in your name. Amen.
Student Sheet-Read bullet points aloud.
• What is the most surprising information to you on this list?
• What is the most reassuring information?
• How is God’s covenant with Noah also a covenant with you?
Best/Worst (hi’s / low’s) from your week?
Closing Prayer – light candles & think of a person you know whose life seems to be overwhelmed by a “flood”.
God of life, we thank you for forming a covenant with us. Extend that unconditional love to the ones we hold up in prayer today. Help us learn how to be a blessing to them in order to help them get out of a mess and start over with a new beginning. Amen.
MAY YOU ALWAYS WALK WITH GOD AND EXPERIENCE GOD’S COVENANT PROMISE OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND FORGIVENESS. HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!
Make-Up: October 2, 2011 - Abraham
Sarah, Hagar, and Abraham
Bible Text:
Genesis 12:1–4a, 10–20; 15:1–6; 16–18; 21:1–21
Lesson Focus:
We can trust God to follow through on promises, even when we don't keep ours.
Big Question:
Can I really trust God?
Key Words:
TRUST, COVENANT, DESCENDANT, RIGHTEOUS
Definition of Key Words
TRUST: believing in and relying on others.
COVENANT: a contract or an agreement of promises between two parties.
DESCENDANT: someone whose family relationship can be traced to a particular individual or group.
RIGHTEOUS: justified and good. Righteousness comes from faith, and faith comes from God. Righteousness does not come from human works or merit.
Highlights
God makes a covenant with Abraham and Sarah. The promise of descendants and land and blessing first introduced in chapter 12 is reiterated, and the sign of the covenant (male circumcision) is instituted.
God hears Abraham and Hagar's pleas for Ishmael and promises to make of him a great nation, as well. Ishmael is the family line that more than one billion Muslims claim.
God "opens Sarah's womb," Abraham provides the "seed," and Sarah carries the baby and gives birth. Isaac is born of this against-all-odds partnership.
God remains faithful to the promise even when the human part of the partnership does not.
People do not somehow achieve perfection before God works with them, nor does God magically perfect them before calling on them. The "heroes" of the Bible are very real people.
DEEP Thoughts
By Genesis 13, Abram is very rich and well on the journey God commanded him to undertake. Blessings are becoming a reality for him—but still he has no heir. Along the way God continued to repeat the promise of descendants so numerous they will be like the dust of the earth and the stars in the sky, but Sarai remained barren far past childbearing years. The promise seemed to be an impossibility. Abraham questioned it, but in the end, he believed God without any proof or evidence—God's word created the faith he needed to continue on the journey. God's faith-creating word, not Abraham's merit or goodness, is the source of Abraham's "righteousness" (15:6).
Another covenant is made in Genesis 17. The promise of descendants and land and blessing first introduced in chapter 12 is reiterated, and the sign of the covenant (male circumcision) is instituted. Just because a covenant has been made does not mean things unfold seamlessly, however. When Abraham was afraid of Pharaoh, he claimed Sarai was his sister. Sarai herself also becomes more of a player in these chapters. Hagar served as a surrogate mother for Sarai at Sarai's request, and Ishmael was born. The birth of Ishmael does not fulfill the promise that God made, however. God renames Sarai as Sarah ("princess [of a nation]") and Abram as Abraham ("ancestor of a multitude") and promises them that they will have a baby together in their old age.
"Your wife Sarah shall bear you a son," God promises (Genesis 17:19). And we learn that God will establish a covenant with Abraham and Sarah's child—a nation will be built from this child of promise they will have.
Ishmael fades but is not dropped from the biblical storyline. God hears Abraham's plea for Ishmael and promises to make of him a great nation as well. And indeed, Ishmael is the family line that more than one billion Muslims claim. God hears Hagar's cries in the wilderness and opens her eyes to see a well—life-sustaining water for her and Ishmael. God is faithful to Hagar and Ishmael but gently redirects Abraham. "But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year" (Genesis 17:21). It is such a ludicrous idea, Sarah laughs, but the promise holds and the miracle gift of the child of promise comes to be when Abraham is 100 and Sarah is 90. God "opens Sarah's womb," Abraham provides the "seed," and Sarah carries the baby and gives birth. When Isaac ("laughing boy" or "laughter is born") is born of this against-all-odds partnership, the cynical laughter of doubt turns to the laughter of joy.
We learn a lot about both God and humanity in the narrative of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah. God is a vulnerable and suffering God at times. God sees and responds to human need. God takes human action, thought, and partnership seriously. Most importantly, God remains faithful to the promise even when the human part of the partnership does not. For their part, humans actually help shape the future in many instances. People do not somehow achieve perfection before God works with them, nor does God magically perfect them before calling on them. The "heroes" of the Bible are very real people. God works for life and goodness and blessing for all, with—and in spite of—the chosen ones. Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar provide many complications and difficulties, but they remain God's vehicle for blessing the world.
Bible Text:
Genesis 12:1–4a, 10–20; 15:1–6; 16–18; 21:1–21
Lesson Focus:
We can trust God to follow through on promises, even when we don't keep ours.
Big Question:
Can I really trust God?
Key Words:
TRUST, COVENANT, DESCENDANT, RIGHTEOUS
Definition of Key Words
TRUST: believing in and relying on others.
COVENANT: a contract or an agreement of promises between two parties.
DESCENDANT: someone whose family relationship can be traced to a particular individual or group.
RIGHTEOUS: justified and good. Righteousness comes from faith, and faith comes from God. Righteousness does not come from human works or merit.
Highlights
God makes a covenant with Abraham and Sarah. The promise of descendants and land and blessing first introduced in chapter 12 is reiterated, and the sign of the covenant (male circumcision) is instituted.
God hears Abraham and Hagar's pleas for Ishmael and promises to make of him a great nation, as well. Ishmael is the family line that more than one billion Muslims claim.
God "opens Sarah's womb," Abraham provides the "seed," and Sarah carries the baby and gives birth. Isaac is born of this against-all-odds partnership.
God remains faithful to the promise even when the human part of the partnership does not.
People do not somehow achieve perfection before God works with them, nor does God magically perfect them before calling on them. The "heroes" of the Bible are very real people.
DEEP Thoughts
By Genesis 13, Abram is very rich and well on the journey God commanded him to undertake. Blessings are becoming a reality for him—but still he has no heir. Along the way God continued to repeat the promise of descendants so numerous they will be like the dust of the earth and the stars in the sky, but Sarai remained barren far past childbearing years. The promise seemed to be an impossibility. Abraham questioned it, but in the end, he believed God without any proof or evidence—God's word created the faith he needed to continue on the journey. God's faith-creating word, not Abraham's merit or goodness, is the source of Abraham's "righteousness" (15:6).
Another covenant is made in Genesis 17. The promise of descendants and land and blessing first introduced in chapter 12 is reiterated, and the sign of the covenant (male circumcision) is instituted. Just because a covenant has been made does not mean things unfold seamlessly, however. When Abraham was afraid of Pharaoh, he claimed Sarai was his sister. Sarai herself also becomes more of a player in these chapters. Hagar served as a surrogate mother for Sarai at Sarai's request, and Ishmael was born. The birth of Ishmael does not fulfill the promise that God made, however. God renames Sarai as Sarah ("princess [of a nation]") and Abram as Abraham ("ancestor of a multitude") and promises them that they will have a baby together in their old age.
"Your wife Sarah shall bear you a son," God promises (Genesis 17:19). And we learn that God will establish a covenant with Abraham and Sarah's child—a nation will be built from this child of promise they will have.
Ishmael fades but is not dropped from the biblical storyline. God hears Abraham's plea for Ishmael and promises to make of him a great nation as well. And indeed, Ishmael is the family line that more than one billion Muslims claim. God hears Hagar's cries in the wilderness and opens her eyes to see a well—life-sustaining water for her and Ishmael. God is faithful to Hagar and Ishmael but gently redirects Abraham. "But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year" (Genesis 17:21). It is such a ludicrous idea, Sarah laughs, but the promise holds and the miracle gift of the child of promise comes to be when Abraham is 100 and Sarah is 90. God "opens Sarah's womb," Abraham provides the "seed," and Sarah carries the baby and gives birth. When Isaac ("laughing boy" or "laughter is born") is born of this against-all-odds partnership, the cynical laughter of doubt turns to the laughter of joy.
We learn a lot about both God and humanity in the narrative of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah. God is a vulnerable and suffering God at times. God sees and responds to human need. God takes human action, thought, and partnership seriously. Most importantly, God remains faithful to the promise even when the human part of the partnership does not. For their part, humans actually help shape the future in many instances. People do not somehow achieve perfection before God works with them, nor does God magically perfect them before calling on them. The "heroes" of the Bible are very real people. God works for life and goodness and blessing for all, with—and in spite of—the chosen ones. Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar provide many complications and difficulties, but they remain God's vehicle for blessing the world.
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