To receive these posts by email each Monday, sign up.
For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.
The slave Hagar and Ishmael, the son she bore with Abraham, receive a surprising amount of attention amid the story of Abraham and Sarah. Why? Perhaps it is because they can teach important lessons both about the nature of God and about the courage and faith of those who endure marginalization.
