Quick Summary:

This sermon is the first based on the semi-continuous 1st Testament readings from the Hebrew Scriptures, which follows the saga of Abraham and Sarah and their descendants.

God appears to Abram in chapter 12 and commands him to leave his country and family. God promises to bless Abram and give him offspring through whom the world will be blessed. Years go by without any evidence that the promise will be fulfilled. Finally, in chapter 16, the idea enters Sarah’s mind that since she’s been unable to get pregnant, perhaps God wants the promised child to be born for her by way of Hagar, her slave woman. Settling on this idea, Sarah tells Abraham to take Hagar as a wife, and he does, and soon Hagar conceives. Soon it becomes apparent to Sarah that this was a horrible idea. Conflict ensues, and Hagar and Ishmael receive the brunt of Sarah's disappointment, jealousy, and rage.

This sermon asks what we can learn from this story.

[NOTE: This Genesis reading is taken from Proper 7, cycle A]