Repeated phrases:
(1) "The son of Hagar the Egyptian," "the son whom Hagar had borne to Abraham" v.9,"the son of the slane woman" v.10, "the son of the slave wife," v.13.
It almost sounds cruel to called Ishmael with these names so many time. Plus he was kicked out of the family just because he was the son of Hagar. Even Abraham was displeased greatly with Sarah.
21:11 Sarah’s demand displeased Abraham greatly because Ishmael was his son.
(NET)Heb “and the word was very wrong in the eyes of Abraham on account of his son.” The verb רָעַע (ra’a’) often refers to what is morally or ethically “evil.” It usage here suggests that Abraham thought Sarah’s demand was ethically (and perhaps legally) wrong.
Why did God tell Abraham to do what Sarah was telling him to do?
v.12b because through Isaac your descendants will be counted.21:13 But I will also make the son of the slave wife into a great nation, for he is your descendant too.”
The covenant heir was Isaac, not Ishmael. God kept His words and took care of Ishmael in v.14-21
(2) When the water was used up Hagar thought they were going to die. "So she sat across from him and wept uncontrollably" v.16. However, God did not hear her crying. Instead, "God heard the boy’s voice" v.17 and the angel told Hagar, "Don’t be afraid, for God has heard the boy’s voice right where he is crying." v.17
(NET) The text has not to this point indicated that Ishmael was crying out, either in pain or in prayer. But the text here makes it clear that God heard him. Ishmael is clearly central to the story. Both the mother and the LORD are focused on the child’s imminent death.
Even though Ishmael was not the covenant heir but God did not abandon Ishmael because he was also the son of Abraham v.13.
(3) Abraham and Abimelech. "The two of them made a treaty" v.27, "You must take these 7 ewe lambs from my hand as legal proof that I dug this well" v.30, "that is why he named that place Beer Sheba, because the two of them swore an oath there" v.31, "So they made a treaty at Beer Sheba" v.32.
God made a covenant with Abraham and Issac was the covenant heir. Because of that Isaac stayed in the family while Ishmael had to leave. Now, Abraham also made treaty with Abimelech to live among the Philistines and because of that he could lived in that land.
v.33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer Sheba. There he worshiped the LORD, the eternal God. 21:34 So Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for quite some time.
Reflection: What make us able to stay in front of God? Are we Isaac or we are Ishmael?
Ephesians 2:12 that you were at that time without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Thank God for our privileges today because of Jesus Christ. We were brought near by the blood of Christ.
Audrey
Comments