What role did Sarah and Hagar have in defining what it meant to be a typical woman in their time?
What was Abraham's role in the definition of a woman in relation to the role he performed regarding Sarah and Hagar?
In relation to Hagar, how did God's intervention impact the well-being of a woman and a man?
In terms of modern women in society, how significant is the story of Sarah, Hagar, and Abraham in the current generation?
"Childlessness and woman-to-woman relationships in Genesis and African patriarchal society: Sarah and Hagar from the perspective of a Zimbabwean woman"
The article looks at the concept of barrenness in relation to the story of Sarah and Hagar in the Bible (Genesis 16: 1-16) and the context of Shona and Ndebele societies of Zimbabwe Africa. The two contexts are almost similar save for a few instances.
For example, the concept of barrenness is almost similar to that of the Biblical aspect except for the omission of the possibility of male sterility. The two scenarios have had the woman playing a role in solving the problem of barrenness; that is, Sarah in the Bible gives Hagar, her maidservant to Abraham for the purpose of having a child since they have lived for ten years without getting one. On the other hand, the context of Ndebele and Shona societies, the issues of barrenness is addressed by her kin group with her involvement. In the two scenarios, the concept of inheritance plays a central role in the process of solving the problem of barrenness (Mbuwayesango, 1997).
The author Mbuwayesango (1997)
In this case, argues that the women can at times take matters into their hands to solve issues that involve their relationships with men, especially in the context of marriage. This is to ensure that there is continuity in the relationship through the bearing of children. This interpretation is of the essence to the writing of the Midrash concerning the role that Sarah, Hagar, and Abraham played in defining the role of women in the biblical time and in extension the present time.
The Midrash
The Biblical context involving Sarah and Hagar is a representation of two women, one, Sarah, a childless mistress and two, Hagar, a fertile slave. The former and her husband Abraham had spent ten years without having a child and Sarah saw it best that she intervenes by providing her servant to her husband to help bear a child. The situation is not a strange one in other contexts that followed.
For example, in the African context, specifically the Shona and Ndebele communities in Zimbabwe, where a child in a family/marriage is a great gift without which there is a need for intervention which always results to the man marrying a second wife (Mbuwayesango, 1997). However, this is always done through consultations with a woman thought as barren.
In the context of the Biblical account regarding Sarah and Hagar, it is evident that Sarah and Hagar were playing the role of ensuring that there is continuity in their lineage. It was a natural concern if a woman is not capable of bearing children and so by Sarah taking the matter into her hands, she was determined to have a family although she was not going to be the direct mother. Hagar, on the other hand, played her role as a faithful servant by agreeing that she bears a child with her master, Abraham. Since at some point it is natural to boast with what one has that is lacked by another, Hagar became boastful and this lead to Sarah getting angered with her leading to her chasing Hagar away. This is typically a demonstration of the relationship between women and men both in the past and presently.
Abraham
Abraham on the other hand played a good part in being a husband to Sarah and from the records, he was faithful to her even though they had not born any child for a period of ten years. This in a way is contrary to the present day, especially the African context. For example, as demonstrated by Mbuwayesango, (1997), two years are enough for a husband to make the decision to have another wife upon realizing that his first wife is not able to bear him children. The case with Abraham in the Biblical context upon being instructed by Sarah to sleep with Hagar for the purpose of having a child and he agrees to it translates to something about the women of that time. His involvement defines the women of that time as being convincing to their husband especially when there is a serious matter to be considered (Hill, 2014).
God's Intervention
God in the case of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar intervened by telling Hagar to go back and be submissive to her mistress in addition to giving her promises that her descendants will be of greatness. In the present context involving, for example, the African, the community always intervenes in cases involving families and ensures that all is well. The involvement of God in the biblical context was to create order despite the breakup that was between Sarah and her slave Hagar. In extension, this was to help in extending harmonious existence between Abraham and his wife Sarah who might not have been in good terms after Hagar had run away.
The intervention of God can, therefore, be perceived as ensuring that the wish of the woman is reached despite the means. Sarah desired some peace and she could not tolerate the criticisms from Hagar hence she resorted to mistreating her. This, therefore, lead to Hagar fleeing away and this could have caused even more trouble but God came in and advised Hagar to go back, hence mending and restoring the peaceful co-existence.
The scenario of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar in the biblical context is a direct representative of the present situation as far as family and the society at large are concerned. The issues that are evident in the case such as marriage and childbearing have been part and parcel of the society as a family is counted complete when there are parents and the children. When this is not the case, there rises some discomfort that can escalate to wrangles and breakups in marriage. This is the reason why in the present generation, the childless families will have to look for an alternative when there is a case of barrenness or infertility. This is well demonstrated by Mbuwayesango (1997) as he talks about Shona and Ndebele communities in Africa. The women both in the biblical and present context play great roles in maintaining families by ensuring that all is going on well at any time by taking necessary measures to deal with any challenges that they face.
In addition, the woman as portrayed in the biblical context involving Sarah and Hagar has a pivotal role in ensuring that there is continuity in the family as well as in the society. This is seen when Sarah offers that Hagar bear Abraham a child on her behalf. Hagar, on the other hand, did not resist this hence it can be deduced that she supported the idea. This scenario is reflected in the current society where the women are the most involved in the cases of families as seen by the way they strive by all means to have their families in order, especially in the upbringing of the children (Strong & Cohen, 2013). They strive relentlessly to see to it that the children are getting the best support that they, the women can manage. Hence, in this case, they are like playing the role of the creator by ensuring the continuity of life.
Annotating the Midrash
The choice of the Midrash was influenced by the fact that it directly relates to real-life situations in the current generation where the women have become empowered and are able to take initiatives that have been known to be helpful to the society. The questions paused are incites to reveal the nature of women both in the biblical perspective and the current perspective as influenced by various factors such as the men and the society. The Midrash, therefore, told the Story of Sarah, Abraham, and Hagar to show how women relate to both fellow women and the men. Also, to show how the players in the lives of women influence them when it comes to decision-making. In this regard, the Midrash influenced the story as told by Mbuwayesango, (1997) portraying the woman of today with regard to the role that they play in both the family setup and the society at large. This is emphasized by Hess & Sussman (2014) who emphasized on the role that the woman has played in the current generation for the last two decades.
References
Hess, B., & Sussman, M. B. (2014). Women and the family: Two decades of change. Routledge.
Hill, B. (2014). Imperial women in Byzantium 1025-1204: power, patronage and ideology. Routledge.
Mbuwayesango, D. R. (1997). Childlessness and woman-to-woman relationships in Genesis and in African patriarcal society: Sarah and Hagar from a Zimbabwean woman’s perspective (Gen 16: 1-16; 21: 8-21). Semeia, (78), 27.
Strong, B., & Cohen, T. F. (2013). The marriage and family experience: Intimate relationships in a changing society. Cengage Learning.
