Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/167

 Hagar and Ishmael when God watched over

149

those in the ark, and though

all

it

nor rudder nor helmsman nor sailors, still it floated along upon the mighty waters, safe and firm under God's protection. We learn this truth, too, from the story

had neither

sail

Though

of the exodus from Egypt.

and

his

army shut

way

Pharaoh

the mighty

the people in behind, and the beating sea

go cither backward or forstill God, in His mercy and faithful to His promise, made a path for Israel through the depths of the sea, and led His people on to safety and freedom. We learn it also from the story of the prophet Though the whole land hungered because of the Elijah. barred their

ward,

it

in front,

and

to

seemed, meant destruction,

drought, and though he had to

flee

and hide for

before the vengeful king and queen, none the

less

his

life

he was

was fed by the ravens who from this story of Hagar and Ishmael, from the significant words, safe in God's loving care, and
 * 'And God heard the voice of the lad", and from the name,

did God's bidding.

And we

learn this truth, too,

"God hears". The wise teachers and

Ishmael,

rabbis in Israel used to tell many wonderful tales, which showed God's never-failing proviBut far more dence and loving care of all His creatures. than in such stories and miracles, which seemed to exemplify a special providence of God, they delighted in pointing to the manifold instances of God's bounty and blessing, which come to us ceaselessly day by day, and which alone make living possible. They told, for example, that even though

the farmer wears himself out with plowing, harrowing, sowing,

pulling

threshing,

weeds,

still afl

harvesting,

his labor

binding

would be

the

sheaves,

vain, did not

and

God send

a little wind to help winnow the grain and separate the wheat from the chaff. *'And God heard the voice of the lad".

As

the Psalmist said,

He giveth to the beast his food, And to the young ravens which cry.

(Psalm CXLVII,

9.)