Promises of Multiplicity Amid Decrees of Decrease: A Biblical Puzzle?
In this article, you will learn how Genesis 16:10 contradicts Exodus 1:16, Genesis 11:30, Judges 13:2 and Jeremiah 15:7. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
In the Bible, there are instances where the narrative appears to offer conflicting messages, especially when it comes to the promise of abundant descendants contrasted with instances of barrenness and destruction. One prime example comes from Genesis 16:10, where the angel promises Hagar numerous descendants, as countless as the stars. This seems to assure her of a hopeful and prosperous future for her lineage, a profound promise of care and blessing.
Yet, when we look at other scriptures, contrasting messages emerge. In Exodus 1:16, the decree to kill every newborn son among the Israelites seems to directly threaten the potential for growth and the promise of a multitude of descendants. This situation mirrors that of a manufacturer attempting to ramp up production, only to face a law eliminating access to crucial raw materials.
Looking further back in Genesis 11:30, Sarai's barrenness starkly contrasts with the idea of multiplication. There's a disconnect akin to promising vast harvest outcomes from fallow land incapable of yielding crops. Similarly, Judges 13:2 introduces monogamous narratives with Manoah's wife, another barren woman, challenging the message of abundant progeny suggested by Genesis 16:10.
Moreover, Jeremiah 15:7 presents a poignant image of God reducing and destroying people, which stands in stark opposition to the sentiment of increase. Imagine setting out to build a grand city only to find it plagued by constant upheaval and demolition.
These contradictions provoke thought about the nature of divine promises and the reality of human conditions as depicted in the Bible. How do we reconcile these diverging directives of destruction with promises of prosperity? These divergent narratives inspire reflection on faith, divine plans, and the trials that accompany them, reminding readers to think deeply about how promises manifest amidst life's unpredictability.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Genesis 16:10 | And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. |
| 2. | Exodus 1:16 | And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see [them] upon the stools; if it [be] a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it [be] a daughter, then she shall live. |
| 3. | Genesis 11:30 | But Sarai was barren; she [had] no child. |
| 4. | Judges 13:2 | And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name [was] Manoah; and his wife [was] barren, and bare not. |
| 5. | Jeremiah 15:7 | And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave [them] of children, I will destroy my people, [since] they return not from their ways. [children: or, whatsoever is dear] |