*Genesis 21:8-21
Sarah expels Hagar and Ishmael, but God intervenes, promising Hagar that Ishmael will become a great nation and providing for them in the wilderness.
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Ishmael’s Mockery:
- Sarah gives birth to Isaac, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah in their old age.
- Isaac grows and is weaned, and Abraham prepares a great feast to celebrate the occasion.
- Ishmael, Abraham’s son through Hagar the Egyptian maidservant, mocks Isaac during the feast, causing Sarah to become distressed.
- Sarah demands that Abraham cast out Hagar and her son Ishmael, fearing that Ishmael, as the older son, might pose a threat to Isaac’s inheritance and well-being.
- Although Abraham is distressed by Sarah’s demand, God reassures him to listen to Sarah and do as she says, promising to make a nation of Ishmael as well, since he is Abraham’s offspring.
- Early the next morning, Abraham provides Hagar with bread and a skin of water and sends her and Ishmael away, as Sarah had requested.
- Hagar and Ishmael wander in the wilderness of Beersheba, with their water running out and Hagar fearing for her son’s life.
- As Hagar sits apart from Ishmael so she does not have to witness his death, God hears the boy’s cry and speaks to Hagar, asking her what is troubling her.
- God reassures Hagar, promising to make a great nation of Ishmael as well, and He opens her eyes to see a well of water nearby.
- Hagar fills the skin with water and gives Ishmael a drink, saving his life and providing them with sustenance in the wilderness.
- Ishmael grows up in the wilderness of Paran and becomes an archer, eventually marrying an Egyptian woman, as his mother had arranged.
Daily Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being a God who hears us in our times of trouble. Just as You cared for Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness, we trust that You see us and provide for our needs.
Lord, remind us that You are always with us, even in difficult moments. Help us to trust in Your promises and to find hope in Your love and care.
We are grateful that You are a God who sees, hears, and provides. Teach us to rely on You and to walk forward with faith, knowing that You are our help and guide.
Amen.
Genesis 21:8-21 (KJV)
21:8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
21:10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
21:11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
21:13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
21:14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
21:15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
21:17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
21:18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
21:19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
21:20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21:21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.