Why Ishmael is Sent Away.

In Genesis 21 we read about Ishmael, the son of the slave Hagar, mocked Isaac, the son of Sarah. I have always thought it was cruel for Sarah and Abraham to banish Hagar and Ishmael. But after reading the commentaries I now understand why. Ishmael had been the first-born. The inheritance from Abraham would have all been his until Isaac was born. This seemed to make Ishmael angry - so he mocked the child, and as Paul said, he persecuted Isaac. Ishmael was 17 years old at the time and could have been a threat.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
mocking; either at the entertainment made at the weaning of Isaac; or rather at Isaac himself, laughing at his name, and treating him with contempt as his younger brother, and boasting that he was the firstborn, and that the inheritance belonged to him; and threatening what he would do to him, should he hereafter offer to dispute it with him, under pretence of the promise of God that he should be Abraham's heir, and at which promise also he may be supposed to mock: and that this contention was about the inheritance seems plain from the words of Sarah inGenesis 21:10; and in it Ishmael might not only rise to high words, but come to blows, and beat his brother; for it is observed the word used sometimes so signifies, 2 Samuel 2:14; wherefore the apostle might truly call it a persecution, Galatians 4:29; and as even cruel mockings are, Hebrews 11:35. http://bible.cc/genesis/21-9.htm

I also used to wonder why Abraham didn't make sure Hagar and Ishmael had enough water and food to go on their trip. But the commentaries said they had enough but they got lost in the desert. When the water and food was gone and they were dying, it was then that Hagar prayed. God appeared immediately and gave her more than she prayed for. He saved their lives and promised to be with them.

"God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation." Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt." Genesis 21:17-21

God Comes Down in Human Form.

God and two angels assumed human form and came to visit Abraham. They stood near his tent at noon; Abraham didn't know who they were at first, but he ran out to meet them and invite them in for food and rest. This is a good example of hospitality and Paul cites this story: "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

"Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.

So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"

Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'
"Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."
Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, "I didn't laugh." But the LORD said, "No, you did laugh."

I love so much about this story; Abraham's gracious hospitality, the fact God came down to visit and talk with Abraham which shows how much he loves us, how he didn't get angry at Sarah for laughing but he did call her on it! But my favorite verse is when God said, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

No. To the one who could create the vast universe and fill it with wisdom and beauty; nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Hagar the Slave.

God had promised Abraham and Sarai he would give them a child. But instead of waiting for God's timing, they tried to make their prayers come true themselves by using a slave girl.

"Sarai said to Abram, 'Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her. And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai."

"Abram went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. And Sarai said to Abram, 'May the wrong done me be upon you, I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the Lord judge between you and me.' But Abram said to Sarai, 'Behold, you maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.' So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence."
Genesis 16:1-6

Hagar ran to the wilderness and came to a spring of water. The angel of God came and spoke to her, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from and where are you going?"

Hagar answered, "I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai." God now told her what to do and what he would do for her.

"Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority. I will greatly multiply your descendants so they will be too many to count." He also told her she would have a son, and she was to call him, Ishmael (which means "God hears") because God had seen her troubles.

Abraham and Sarai had used Hagar. She had no rights, she had no choice but to obey them. God saw what had happened and came to help her. He must have felt great pity for Hagar. Later on, when Sarai had her own son, Hagar was mistreated again. But God intervened to save her and Ishmael, and he made of Ishmael a great tribe and then a nation.

I think this is a great lesson to all Christians to wait for God to answer our prayers and not try other means that may harm someone to get what we want. All our desires should come under God's control. Both Hagar and Ishmael were hurt by the actions of Abram and Sarai.

Abraham and Fear.

Abraham married his half-sister. She was so beautiful that two kings wanted her for a wife; one was a Pharoah of Egypt, one was Abimelech, King of Gerar. Abraham had asked Sarah that when they traveled together to tell people she was his sister, not his wife. He was afraid men would kill him to have her.

Twice, God had to save Sarah from the kings who had taken her. Twice, he kept her from having sex with another man. She was to be the mother of a new nation and was to bear a child given to her by God. This was God's plan for Sarah and he would let no one change it.

Abraham did not trust God to protect him when it came to Sarah. He feared for his life, so he lied. Later on, his son Isaac did the same thing with his wife Rebecca.

How do we find faith when we believe our lives are threatened? How do we stay calm and believing in a situation like that? There are some statements from Jesus and God that can help us.

When the authorities were wanting to kill Jesus, the scripture says, "So they were seeking to seize him; and no man laid his hand on him, because his hour had not yet come." John 7:30

There was a time and an hour for Jesus to be arrested and to die. Many times people tried to kill him, but God did not allow it. Jesus lived as a man, he lived how we must live: dependent on God. After praying in Gethsemane, he said to his disciples, "It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners." Mark 14:41

In Psalm 91:7 it says, "A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not approach you." This verse doesn't mean we will never die when thousands around us are dying. But it does mean that if God doesn't will it, you will not die at that time. David also said, "My times are in your hands." Psalm 31:15

Abraham may have had an excuse for lying about his wife once. But why after God intervened with the King of Egypt did he do it a second time? He had still not learned to trust God with his life. But what is wonderful about this story is how God looks. He comes through shining in glory and goodness. He protected Sarah, he forgave Abraham, he talked with pagan kings and was kind to them.

Thank you Lord that you are a loving, patient and kind God. We are so fortunate to have you ruling the Universe. Be with us God as we live on this dark planet. Keep us from the evil one as you have promised. In Jesus name, Amen.