There are a number of interesting, helpful thoughts for this text for this week.
At Journey with Jesus, Dan Clendenin has posted a particularly powerful commentary. It's difficult to find a quotation that sums up his words. Make sure to visit his site.
Another powerful story/commentary online is by Kathy Manis Findley: "The Song of Emptiness: Hagar," from Voices of Our Sisters.
In wilderness places one experiences both the presence and the absence of God. When we find ourselves in the wilderness for any time at all, we quickly learn that others are there, too. Most are afraid. Many are in despair. A few are frozen, immobilized, paralyzed–unable to move, much less able to get themselves back on the journey of getting to a better place. No matter what makes your place a wilderness, wilderness places can be lonely. The Genesis story describes such a lonely wilderness place, the place where Hagar and her son were sent.
Check out some of the Jewish commentary on this story:
"A Great Partner for a Great Endeavor," Torah Commentary by Wendy Amsellem. BeliefNet.
"Death and Reconciliation: Chayye Sarach," Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center.
"I: The Sacrifice of Sarah, II: The Non-sacrifice of Isaac: Perashat Vayera," Mark H. Kirschbaum, M.D., Tikkun.
"Abraham, Sarah and Hagar: A Family Affair: Did Sarah Sin Against Hagar?" by Rabbi Matis Greenblatt, Literary Editor of Jewish Action Magazine.
And feminist commentary can be found at:
"Reinterpreting Hagar's Story," Jessica Grimes, Lectio Difficilior, 2004.
"Gender, Class, and Androcentric Compliance in the Rapes of Enslaved Women in the Hebrew Bible," Susanne Scholz, Lectio Difficilior, 2004.
"Women Quilting A Biblical Pattern," Letty M. Russell, 1992.
A couple of commentaries from/about Muslim perspective:
"Muhammad in the Bible," Dr. Jamal Badawi.
"Muslim/Christian Dialogue," H.M. Baagil, M.D., WAMY Studies on Islam.
From a pastoral perspective:
"Living with Wounded Families," By Doug Adams, Professor of Christianity and the Arts, Pacific School of Religion.
How do YOU know the story of Sarah, Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael? How are you each of the characters in the story? What can we learn from this story, not only as individuals, but as communities, congregations, families, nations?
