Human Weakness and God’s Power

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator

Today's reading from the Book of Genesis shows us the uglier side of human nature in the behavior of Sarai toward her slave, Hagar, as well as Hagar's behavior toward Sarai. Hagar is gloating over the fact that she has become pregnant with Abram's offspring while Sarai has been unable to conceive. In return, Sarai begins to abuse her maidservant because she has been shamed by Hagar's pregnancy.

In today's world, science has made us aware that the inability to conceive is not always a problem with the woman. These people never considered that the problem could rest with the male's inability to produce the necessary seed for conception. It was always the woman who was barren. It was a source of great shame for the woman if she could not conceive. These people had no concept of an afterlife. If one did not have children, no one would be left to remember them after they were dead. Without someone to remember them, their deaths would erase their lives from the pages of human history. Celibacy and virginity had no place in this culture. Children were the future. As Abram told the Lord, what good was his wealth and prosperity if it simply passed to the servants after his death? It was the product of useless toil.

With this background it is somewhat easier to understand the behavior of which we read today. At the same time we must admit that their behavior puts us off and makes us uneasy. The fact is that the history of salvation is embedded in human history. As is the case with all human history, it bears the stamp of the vagaries of human behavior. Yet God's plan to redeem us is not thwarted by this behavior. God prevails. God uses the weakness of these individuals and accomplishes the goal of our redemption. Once again, it shows us that God is the real source of power. God is in control.