Genesis 21:8-21 (King James Version)
These verses set out the circumstances wherein Abraham sends his maid servant Hagar and her son Ishmael away from the compound. After his son Isaac is born, Sarah, his wife, sees Ishmael mocking Isaac. Sarah tells Abraham he must send Hagar and her son away.
Abraham agonizes and reluctantly agrees to send Ishmael and Hagar away after being assured by God that the boy will be the father of a great nation. So, Abraham sends them off into the wilderness with a bag of water and instructions to go find her own people.
While wandering in the desert, she apparently gets lost, runs out of water and is ready to die.
God hears her cries, rescues her, give her water and again promises that the boy will be the father of a great nation.
What I find interesting in this passage are two things. First, even though Abraham does not want to send Hagar and Ishmael away, he does so, not only because his wife tells him to, which should be reason enough for any man, but also because I think he foresees the problems that will arise after his death in terms of inheritance and other issues. Secondly, and most importantly, Abraham consults God as to what he should do. God does in fact take care of the boy and his mother after they are lost in the wilderness. I think the ultimate message sent in this passage is that God cares for all people, not just Jews and Christians, but all people of the world who worship God.
Lee Oxley
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