Topical Bible: Jealousy: Sarah, of Hagar

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In the biblical narrative, the theme of jealousy is prominently illustrated in the relationship between Sarah and Hagar. This account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis and provides insight into the complexities of human emotions and relationships, as well as the unfolding of God's covenantal promises.

Background

Sarah, originally named Sarai, was the wife of Abraham (originally Abram) and is a central figure in the Abrahamic covenant. Despite God's promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4), Sarah remained barren for many years. This barrenness was a source of distress and cultural shame, as bearing children was considered a woman's primary role and a sign of divine favor.

The Introduction of Hagar

In an attempt to fulfill God's promise through human means, Sarah gave her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, to Abraham as a concubine. This was a customary practice in the ancient Near East when a wife was unable to bear children. Genesis 16:2 records Sarah's words to Abraham: "Please go to my maidservant. Perhaps I can build a family by her." Abraham consented, and Hagar conceived.

The Emergence of Jealousy

Once Hagar became pregnant, tensions arose between her and Sarah. Genesis 16:4 states, "And when she saw that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress." Hagar's attitude likely exacerbated Sarah's feelings of inadequacy and insecurity, leading to jealousy. Sarah's response was to blame Abraham for the situation, saying, "May the wrong done to me be upon you" (Genesis 16:5).

Sarah's jealousy and frustration led her to mistreat Hagar, causing Hagar to flee into the wilderness. However, the Angel of the LORD appeared to Hagar, instructing her to return and submit to Sarah, promising that her descendants would be too numerous to count (Genesis 16:9-10).

The Birth of Isaac and Renewed Jealousy

The tension between Sarah and Hagar did not end with Hagar's return. In Genesis 21, God fulfilled His promise to Sarah, and she bore a son, Isaac, in her old age. The birth of Isaac was a joyous occasion, but it also reignited Sarah's jealousy. When Sarah saw Ishmael, Hagar's son, mocking Isaac, she demanded that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away, saying, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac" (Genesis 21:10).

Divine Intervention and Resolution

God instructed Abraham to heed Sarah's request, reassuring him that Ishmael would also become a great nation because he was Abraham's offspring (Genesis 21:12-13). Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away, and God provided for them in the wilderness, reaffirming His promise to make Ishmael a great nation (Genesis 21:18).

Theological Implications

The account of Sarah's jealousy towards Hagar highlights the human struggle with trust and reliance on God's timing and promises. It underscores the consequences of taking matters into one's own hands and the resulting interpersonal conflicts. Despite the human failings evident in the narrative, God's faithfulness and sovereignty are clearly demonstrated as He fulfills His promises to both Sarah and Hagar, ensuring the continuation of His covenantal plan through Isaac and providing for Ishmael's future.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 16:5
And Sarai said to Abram, My wrong be on you: I have given my maid into your bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and you.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Of Sarah's Handmaid, Hagar, whom She Herself Wished to be ...
... pregnant bond woman despised her barren mistress, and Sarah, with womanly jealousy,
rather laid ... free begetter of children, and that in using Hagar he had ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 25 of sarahs handmaid hagar.htm

Chapter xxx
... Strong, indeed, must have been Rachel's jealousy and impatience to ... the miscarriage
of Abraham's plan when Sarah substituted Hagar should have ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxx.htm

Chapter xxi
... that the son of the Egyptian woman Hagar, whom she ... he was playing"( Meek), certainly
imputes to Sarah the cheapest kind of jealousy, quite unworthy of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxi.htm

Genesis
... iii.8). Similarly the expulsion of Hagar, which in J is due to Sarah's jealousy
(xvi.), in E is attributed to a command of God, xxi.8-21; and the success of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/genesis.htm

Ephesians v. 22-24
... There is also another ground of petty jealousy. ... For consider, I say, that righteous
household I spoke of. Sarah herself bade the patriarch take Hagar. ...
/.../homily xx ephesians v 22-24.htm

The Doctrine
... verse 21) he saith, As for you that desire to be under the law, I will show you
the mystery of Abraham's two sons, which he had by Hagar and Sarah; these two ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the doctrine.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... His mercy not to be presumptuously trusted in, [762]382; His jealousy, [763]383 ... Hagar,
why taken by Abraham, [804]155; her insulting treatment of her mistress ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... with the blood and fat of every victim; to be disturbed by jealousy at these ... so any
one quoting the example of Abraham begetting a son from Hagar, in defence ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree;
... 'THEN the anger of the Lord, and his jealousy, shall smoke against that man, and
all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the barren fig-tree.htm