I’m not sure it was as cause-and-effect as you are making it seem.
Well, as the story goes, Abraham sleeps with Hagar in order to have the son he is desperate for as his wife is well past the age of child-bearing. Hagar has a son. Then Abraham’s wife conceives and has a son. Abraham then sends Hagar and his first-born son out into the desert, to die or not as the case may be. God took mercy on them.
Doesn’t reflect too well on Abraham, does it? And why on earth did God say he should sleep with Hagar? To WHAT purpose??? What is the lesson we are supposed to take from it?
Certainly the ramifications, from a political point of view, have been disastrous for many centuries!
“Also, please remember that there are 4 senses of Scripture. From
Jimmy Akin:”
I have no problem with interpreting scripture allegorically; my problem is accepting that these things actually happened. That they are historical facts. Because I don’t know how anyone could be edified by them!
“Marriage was not a sacrament until Jesus made it one.”
I spoke of sanctity (that is, pertaining to God), and not a sacrament.
Remember what Christ said about hardness of heart? Although Moses permitted divorce it was only because of the hardness of their hearts and it was not in accordance with God’s plan. Therefore, why did God permit/encourage/sanction the breaking of the marriage bond between Abraham and his wife? And to repeat myself, why?
What lesson are we to take from this story?
Thank you Ryan for your patience which is evident in your style of writing.
Verity 1
