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Genesis 12,16,21 – A Wife Gets What She Wants And Gets Back At Her Husband?
A wife gets what she wants; and does she do it in a way that gets back at her husband?
This is not a modern scene, although it is very modern as seen in many marriages. A husband mistreats his wife, and she finds a way to manipulate the situation that reminds her husband of his maltreatment, while getting something out of it for herself. The Bible is filled with true narratives that remind us that not much has changed. People are still people. Bad follows bad. We reap what we sow.
The first scene finds Abram (i.e., Abraham) leaving the Promised Land because of famine (Genesis 12). Egypt is his destination although the inspired record does not record God’s permission to leave. Not inquiring of God leads to trouble; this is a biblical theme.
As the narrator tells his tale, it is significant what is missing. Abram builds an altar in Canaan (Gen.12:7). There is no record of him building one in Egypt. Abram returns to that altar and worships (13:4). Plus, he builds another altar when he leaves that one and travels to another area inside the Promised Land (Gen.13:18).
Once in Egypt, you might be familiar with the story, Abram lies about Sarah being his wife and does it every place they go (Gen.13). Since she is beautiful, Pharaoh takes her (Remember David and Bathsheba?) Pharaoh takes her as his wife. Trouble follows. For more details, read Genesis 12:10-20.
Important to the writer of Genesis, and to us in our own relationships, Moses is teaching his readers that trouble doesn’t end just because it appears to be over. I suggest all of us, and in this scenario a wife, have long memories when it comes to being treated wrongly!
Years later, Sarai (i.e., Sarah) still hasn’t had a child. She convinces her husband to sleep with one of her slaves, then she will raise that child as her own. Ishamel is born. Trouble follows. For more details, read Genesis 16,21.
Now how are these events related?
- Famine and barrenness inflict a husband and wife. Barrenness is a metaphorical type of famine.
- Abram lied about Sarai so that she was taken by the Egyptian Pharaoh “as his wife” (Gen.12:19). Sarai gave the Egyptian Hagar to Abram “as a wife” (Gen.16:3).
- Pharaoh gives slaves to Abram for his wife (Gen.12:16); and Sarah gives her slave to Abram as a “wife” (Gen.16:3).
- Both scenes have a connection to Egypt.
- Both result in people being sent away (12:20; 21:14).
- Both scenes are filled with human emotions that often cause trouble – Abram with his fear; Sarai with her shame.
- Neither connection to Egypt was God’s plan.
Considering how rich Abram was including owning many slaves, it makes me wonder why did Sarah choose an Egyptian to give to her husband? Considering all the connections above and how the Bible often tells the same stories again and again just with different characters and in various situations; I am thinking it is very possible that we are getting a glimpse of our own humanity in both scenes.
What Abram wrongly did to Sarai, she is now doing to Abram. Payback is a theme in Genesis (not that women would ever play psychological warfare!). Neither Abraham nor Sarah is living according to God’s promises of land, nation, and the “seed promise.”
Want better marriages? Want to be better people? Don’t want trouble to follow? Follow God’s plan and promises.
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