Comparison Of Hagar And Abraham In Genesis

The worst thing any parent can imagine is losing their child; however, this is the reality that both Hagar and Abraham face in Genesis, as their respective sons come close to death but never reach it. After being banished by Abraham from his camp because of Sarah’s anger, Hagar and Ishmael are forced to wander around the unforgiving desert until they find provisions or run out of water. After the latter happens, Hagar “flung the child under one of the bushes” in order to not have to see him die of dehydration (104). Hagar is not the direct reason for Ishmael’s suffering, while Abraham, on the other hand, is the instigator of his son’s fear and suffering. Called by God to “offer him up as a burnt offering” Abraham comes extremely close to slaughtering

A messenger of God comes to tell her to “return to your mistress and suffer abuse at her hand,” for if she does this God “will surely multiply your seed” (79). Hagar, an Egyptian, who has had no previous contact with God, blindly follows His instructions and returns to an abusive situation. She trusts that God will eventually provide and care for her, naming her son Ishmael or “God has heard” (79). Abraham on the other hand doubts God. Even after He has continuously promised He will multiply Abraham’s seed to be as great as the stars in the sky, Abraham and Sarah both laugh when they hear Sarah will conceive a son. When God hears Sarah’s laughter from behind a curtain He questions her and when she denies it, sternly reprimands, “Yes, you did laugh” revealing that He is always listening and making note of their doubts and fears even when He is not physically present. Although Abraham has followed God’s instructions thus far, he and his wife have revealed their doubt in His ultimate divine plan. In contrast Hagar fully accepts that a great nation will spring from her and returns back to a place of suffering in order that God’s plan might be carried