Tag Archives: hagar

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1998 movie “The Parent Trap”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; ² so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. ³ So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. ⁴ He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. ⁵ Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me,” Genesis 16:1-5.

Biblical Connection:

Identical twins Annie and Hallie were separated at birth. However, they meet at summer camp for the first time as 10-year-olds. Before the summer is over, they develop a plan to reunite their wayward parents. Unknown to their parents, Annie and Hallie switch places, pretending to the other. However, Chessy is the first to uncover the girls scheme.

Sarai is the wife of Abram, the father of Israel. Unfortunately, no matter how hard they try, Sarai is unable to bear children. Instead of praying and trusting God for a miracle, Sarai panics. This leads Sarai to make an irrational decision, giving her husband another woman to have children with. This decision to switch places leads to the birth of Ishmael, the father of Arab nations, Israel’s enemy.

Closing Song:

Forcing a relationship today is known as pulling a Hagar. If relationships aren’t allowed to happen naturally, in God’s timing, a special bond is unlikely to form. Instead of switching places to see if the grass is greener on the other side, be thankful for who you are and the special talents that God has instilled within you. Remember that God made you for a purpose, Philippians 1:6.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1995 film “Sense and Sensibility”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; ² so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. ³ So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. ⁴ He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress, Genesis 16:1-4.

Biblical Connection:

Following the death of Mr. Dashwood played by Tom Wilkinson, his second wife and her three daughters are left poor when the bulk of Dashwood’s estate are left to the son by his first marriage. Elinor played by Dame Emma Thompson, Marianne who is Kate Winslet, and Margaret (Emilie François), are the three daughters affected by this dire situation. After being taken in by a kind cousin, their lack of wealth affects Elinor’s ability to marry the love of her life, the wealthy Edward Ferrars played by Hugh Grant. Rather than force the issue, Elinor accepts her lowly fate.

Inheritance, social status and wealth played an integral role in who royalty chose to marry. From an Old Testament perspective, Jews were expected by God to search for suitable marriage partners among other Hebrews. In the days of Abram and Sarai, God promises Abram a great nation. The other problem was that his wife Sarai was barren. Rather than wait on the Lord to provide, Sarai panicked, forcing the issue by giving her husband Hagar, their maidservant to have children with. Hagar’s child Ishmael became the father of the Arab nations, which is at war against Israel today.

Closing Song:

Today’s song talks about three individuals who forced the issue rather than wait for love. May the consequences of their poor choices inspire you to wait on love by letting it happen naturally.

by Jay Mankus