Adultery! Slaves! Adultery with slaves! Male genital mutilation! Male genital mutilation on slaves! Bargaining with God! These three chapters have so much going, I don’t know where to start.

Sarah has no children, so sends Hagar, her slave, to sleep with Abraham. When Hagar gets pregnant, Sarah hates her (no surprise), and beats her. When Sarah Hagar runs away, God sends her back, and tells her to take her lickings.

Later, God shows up and tells Abraham that all males of the house, by birth or by purchase (read: slave), shall be circumcised. Ouch! It turns out that we still do have an ancient barbaric sacrificial custom remaining. We no longer make burnt offerings, but still mortify the flesh.

Now we’re getting close to another genocide, but Abraham is doing some heavy bargaining, and in the end, all we need are ten godly men, and The Good Lord with spare Sodom. Will he find those ten men? Tune in tomorrow.

Tomorrow: Genesis 19-21