God appeared to Hagar twice. One, when she proved a rebellious subject of then-Sarai, the other as an outcast from Abraham’s encampment. Genesis 16 records the first and Genesis 21 the second time. Both Keil-Delitzsch and Henry Morris stressed the change in Hagar’s destiny in the two contacts. In the first she remained under Abraham’s covenant—an angel of Jehovah appeared to her 16:7. In the second she lost her spiritual destiny—the angel of God spoke to her from heaven 21:17.
The change must be appreciated. Had Hagar remained in Abraham’s camp, her son would have remained under his father’s covenant, making him an equal partner with Isaac and, by extension, Islam with Christianity. God exercised his sovereignty in eliminating parity by banishing the threat to Isaac’s singularity as God’s Chosen messenger to the ages Galatians 3:16-18. Some may question if the angel of Jehovah was Jesus Christ in Pre-Incarnate appearance. First of all, Jesus could appear in any form he pleased, at any time he desired. An angel is an angel, is an angel, is an angel, and nothing more. Secondly, as Creator of Adam and Eve, Jesus appeared in a visible form—as the face of God—in Eden Genesis 3:8. He repeated his visible manifestations at critical times: when Abram first arrived at Shechem in Canaan 12:7. When establishing his covenant of circumcision with Abram through Sarai, when Abram would have been content to have the slave girl’s son assume God’s blessing 17:18-19. When he announced Sarah’s motherhood within a year 18:10. Leaping beyond other appearances for this part, when he stood before Joshua preceding the first battle for Canaan Joshua 5:13-15. Jesus Christ has always represented God when revealing himself to his covenant people, whether in a Pre-existent body or through his appointed prophets. God’s promise to Abram regarding Ishmael’s future to Hagar followed his message to Hagar: Genesis 16:9-10 to Genesis 17:20. He would increase Ishmael’s descendants, multiplying nations under him, but never without conflict among themselves Genesis 16:11-12. But he wouldn’t allow Ishmael to infringe on Isaac’s destiny. Thus, God allowed the rise of a national group that would bitterly oppose Israel and Christians, while protecting Isaac as God’s SEED in Jesus Christ, the Person who IS “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” Hebrews 1:3. Through Isaac God continued Abraham’s descendants as Hebrews. Through Jacob God built 12 conglomerate Hebrews into the nation of Israel. Then through David built a lasting dynasty that, through his descendant Jesus Christ, established God’s everlasting dynasty Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45, Luke 1:31-33, Acts 13:22-23, 38-39. The accumulation of appearances by a Majestic Someone to chosen people at critical times in history persuasively convinces us that the SOMEONE is none other than GOD the SON! Whose face as God becomes more sharply defined as each passing generation of prophets and psalmists served God’s purpose. End Part II
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