That question is usually the beginning of a joke that goes around in circles. But today, I want it to be a question that makes you re-think a character in the early part of our Judeo-Christian faith story.

Over the years, I have been discovering–with the help of many wonderful biblical commentators and theologians–how a woman was chosen to be the “first” person to do something in the scriptural text. The amazing thing to me is the level of importance of some of these “doings” and yet, I have seldom if ever heard sermons highlighting these women as examples of discipleship or leadership.

So, for this next week, I want us to ponder the woman Hagar we meet in Genesis 16 and see again in Genesis chapters 21 and 25. Hagar was an Egyptian slave in the house of Abram and Sarai. She was a foreigner. She was property. She was used by humans to accomplish their desires without consideration of her personal needs or desires.

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