Lent 2018 Devotional: Day Nine
“But Abram said to Sarai, “Your slave-girl [Hagar] is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she [Hagar] ran away from her.” —Gen 16:6
The New Revised Standard Version Bible notes that the Hebrew word translated here as “dealt harshly with” could also be translated “oppressed.” Previous to this passage, God had promised Abram that his own child would be his heir. But his wife Sarai bore no children. Rather than waiting on and trusting God, she and Abram took matters into their own hands. Sarai used her power over her slave Hagar, giving him as a wife to Abram in order to produce an heir. Rather than engaging in the flourishing of all life that God wishes for all of us, Sarai oppressed Hagar.
God calls us all to participate in works of justice and mercy, particularly for the oppressed. However, the way we engage in that work must always be guided by our individual and communal trust in, and relationship with, God. When Jesus showed us the way to be with one another and God, his way was not oppressive. He did chase the moneychangers from the temple with a whip (one could call that “dealing harshly with”). But that action made clear that he was the one to break down the barriers between people and God that humans had constructed, not to oppress. And his every action was guided by trust in and obedience to God. If our actions reduce the flourishing of life for others, rather than opening the way to greater flourishing, that is not the way of God. When we try to make justice look our way rather than listening for God, we invariably turn away from Jesus.
What actions of mercy and justice are you engaged in? How are you waiting on—and listening for the voice of—God in that work?
The New Revised Standard Version Bible notes that the Hebrew word translated here as “dealt harshly with” could also be translated “oppressed.” Previous to this passage, God had promised Abram that his own child would be his heir. But his wife Sarai bore no children. Rather than waiting on and trusting God, she and Abram took matters into their own hands. Sarai used her power over her slave Hagar, giving him as a wife to Abram in order to produce an heir. Rather than engaging in the flourishing of all life that God wishes for all of us, Sarai oppressed Hagar.
God calls us all to participate in works of justice and mercy, particularly for the oppressed. However, the way we engage in that work must always be guided by our individual and communal trust in, and relationship with, God. When Jesus showed us the way to be with one another and God, his way was not oppressive. He did chase the moneychangers from the temple with a whip (one could call that “dealing harshly with”). But that action made clear that he was the one to break down the barriers between people and God that humans had constructed, not to oppress. And his every action was guided by trust in and obedience to God. If our actions reduce the flourishing of life for others, rather than opening the way to greater flourishing, that is not the way of God. When we try to make justice look our way rather than listening for God, we invariably turn away from Jesus.
What actions of mercy and justice are you engaged in? How are you waiting on—and listening for the voice of—God in that work?
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