During the discussion, Eugene Rivers pointed out that the stories of the bible present adversity as a vehicle of hope, as adversity drives us to action. An example was given that Sarah needed to act by giving Hagar to Abraham before she was rewarded with Isaac. This is a positive interpretation that encourages activity over passivity. However, I share a concern of Bharati Mukherjee. She stated that there are times when the bible's stories advocate just sitting back and bearing adversity passively while having faith that God will see your suffering, hear your cries and save you. This is how I read Hagar's story.

Hagar passively does only what she is told to do, except in two instances: when she flees Sarah's abuses, and when she puts her son in a bush so she needn't see him die.

Fleeing Sarah's abuses is a brave action to take, since, as a slave, she does not have a secure destination waiting for her. This is admirable and shows faith in the spirit of human freedom and dignity. She is unwilling to have herself or her unborn child consistently demeaned and abused. But God sends her back. God tells her to passively bear the abuse and wait for her reward. This is the type of behavior that concerned Ms. Mukherjee. This is the type of behavior that led so many American slaves to passively accept their lot and wait for their "pie in the sky" reward.

The same behavior is seen when Hagar is banished with her son. She does not resist. She does not insist on being given money or a reasonable supply of food or water, or even being brought to a place where she may find work. She just passively does as she is told. Only then, when her son is at death's door, is she rewarded by God, only then is she and her son saved.

Ms. Mukherjee's concerns seem valid here. Hagar's story seems to be about the rewards of passively accepting abuse while waiting for God to intervene.

I am troubled by this and am hoping someone could provide a more constructive interpretation.

This is another evidence for human being's incurable disease -SIN, unless we find the real and final solution in God's salvation!

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