By: Obed Pineda
Typically when the word amendment is heard or read, the immediate association made by several living in the United States (US) is with the country’s constitution. Particularly with the first ten amendments known as the “Bill of Rights.” Although twenty-seven amendments have been made to the supreme law of the land (last amended on May 5, 1992) since it came into effect on March 4, 1789, the first ten have always been the most cherished by everyone living in this country because they serve as a shield to the personal freedoms and rights of the people. It is curious, however, that more attention is paid to the function that the Bill of Rights serve today rather than the fact that they are amendments that were made after the constitution had been written. In other words, the original draft of our country’s constitution did not include these safeguards to our precious freedoms we enjoy today; this was later corrected. Hence the importance of understanding why these crucial changes made to the supreme law of the land were identified as amendments. The dictionary defines this word as the altering of a law or a document, or as the correction of something (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). Thus, what this reveals about our cherished Bill of Rights is that a critical error was made in the original draft of the US constitution that required an immediate correction, to prevent any infringement of personal liberties that could pave the way to the rise of tyranny. Indisputably, amendments prove their value not only in legislation but in all forms of life. This is true because an amendment is essentially correcting a mistake before it can lead to a chaotic result. This is what needed to be done by the Lord with Abram’s & Sarai’s unfortunate decision. Their decision of Abram taking Hagar as a wife for the purpose of having a son instantly proved to be an unwise choice. Although Sarai’s intentions were to circumnavigate her barrenness that (according to her) impeded God from fulfilling His promise to her husband, her actions caused her own humiliation because when Hagar “saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes” (Genesis 16:4, emphasis added). It is valuable to comprehend that Hagar’s actions were wrong and sinful, for she is commanded by the Angel of the Lord, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand” (Genesis 16:9, emphasis added). Yet, it is just as important to observe that Sarai perhaps had not had this type of problem with her maidservant before which in all probability led her to choose Hagar for this task. Thus, Sarai unwillingly placed both Hagar and her husband Abram on this slippery slope that deviated them further and further from the Lord God’s promise. Sarai had yet to learn to “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, emphasis added). In the final part of this proverb, it is imperative to understand that the Hebrew word used for “direct” is yâshar and according to the lexicons it is interpreted as “to make right, make smooth, make straight” (Thayer, H3474). With this clarification, it enlightens why Sarai’s well-intended suggestion led off the path that Jehovah God had already prepared for them. The inspired Jeremiah sheds light on her mistake (and how to correct it) by professing, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. O Lord, correct me, but with justice; not in your anger, lest You bring me to nothing” (Jeremiah 10:23-24, emphasis added). Abram’s and Sarai’s blunder would be amended by the Lord thirteen years after Ishmael had been born to Hagar and Abram (Genesis 17:25). The inspired Moses teaches that God begins remedying the situation by commanding Abram, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless” (Genesis 17:1c, emphasis added). Observe the three important lessons given to Abram by the Lord prior to renewing the covenant with him to rectify their error. First, God reminds Abram of His omnipotence. This was to undeniably teach Abram once more the same lesson that was taught to Mary as the angel spoke, “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37, emphasis added). What seemed to be unattainable to he and his wife, for God it was not so and thus the significance of His second correction. Because there is unequivocally nothing impossible for God, it of the utmost importance to fully rely on Him. Abram had again acted instinctively and did not consult God on the matter. He had forgotten the lesson that had been revealed to him as the Lord made him wait for a response to his query (Genesis 15:1-13). Thus, Jehovah God was rectifying Abram’s choice, in the same manner, He answered His prophet Habakkuk: “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end, it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in; but the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:3-4, emphasis added). Finally, the Almighty taught His friend that his decision was not without blame. Abram, like Adam, erred when he “heeded the voice of Sarai” (Genesis 16:2c, emphasis added). Abram became an accomplice of Sarai by condoning her actions instead of correcting her as Job did when his wife became grieved with hopelessness (Job 2:9-10). Jehovah God was reiterating the importance of being holy, but also the importance of taking responsibility for our actions; good or bad. This final lesson is emphatically taught to him when his notion of Ishmael being the promised son is corrected by God, “No, Sarah your wife shall bear your son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him” (Genesis 17:9, emphasis added). Without question, for Abraham, it was difficult to hear from the Lord that his son Ishmael would not be included in the promise. His guilt of knowing that Ishmael’s exclusion was a direct result of his unwise decision in heeding Sarah’s voice is palpable in Holy Writ. Yet, the mercy and compassion of the Almighty upon Ishmael is just as present for He assures Abraham, “as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year” (Genesis 17:20-21, emphasis added). There is no denying that Abraham understood and accepted his Lord’s will, for he complied with His commandment of circumcision “that very same day, as God had said to him” (Genesis 17:23, emphasis added). Behold, heaven’s amendment. To be continued…