Why does God rename Sarai and Abram? What effect does it have?
Compare the two accounts of God’s promise to Sarah and Abraham being fulfilled (Genesis 16 and Genesis 21). What interests do the different authors have in their accounts? What are the similarities and differences in these chapters?
How is sexual fidelity understood in Sarah and Abraham’s story? How does situating this story in its historical context influence our interpretation?
Applying the Text:
Sarah deeply mistreats her enslaved servant Hagar throughout their story. Can we find a sympathetic reading of Sarah’s behavior? Should we? How should we tell the stories of both Sarah and Hagar in a way that is honest to the experience of both women?
Sarah and Abraham think they are far too old to ever have a child, but they have Isaac anyway. Is Sarah’s reaction to both the promise of the miracle and the miracle itself relatable in any way? When has God done something in your life that you thought was impossible?
Does Sarah and Hagar’s relationship reveal anything about contemporary relationships between women with unequal amounts of power? What are some examples?