BRAGADAYJAH 44

Sarai might have been the first married woman to know the scornful look, the sneer and contempt of the other woman; but surely she was not the last for the profile of the other woman has not changed much. For it has been well said, that one of the things even the earth cannot bear is the way of the maid when she becomes the mistress. Be that as it may, Sarai now found cause to complain to Abram about her maid’s insufferable ways; but Abram smoothly parried and said, “She is your maid; do to her as you please.” So Sarai turn the screws on her maid Hagar so tightly that, when she could not take it any more she ran away. Soon after the messenger of the Lord met Hagar sitting by the side of the road and calling her by name, asked her what she was doing there. Hagar complained that she was fleeing from the face of her mistress Sarai to which the messenger of God advised her, “Return and submit yourself to your mistress.” Hagar must have been somewhat hesitant to obey; so the messenger decided to cheer her up not a little with some great news. “I will multiply your seed exceedingly so that it shall be numberless for multitude.” Furthermore the angel of the Lord told Sarai, “You are presently with child; and you shall have a son whom you should call Ishmael because the Lord has heard your affliction.” The news the angel had to give Hagar was good news and bad news. Yes you will have a son; he will be the forebear of many; but he shall be a wild and violent man. He shall be against every man and every man shall be against him. More