Ishmael

*Ishmael’s story is told in Genesis 16-17, 21:8-21, 25:12-18, 28:8-9, 36:1-3

Who is Ishmael?

  • The first son of Abraham (then Abram) and Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian maidservant.
  • Born as a result of Sarah’s attempt to fulfill God’s promise of offspring through her own means, rather than waiting for God’s timing.

Strengths and Accomplishments

  • Blessed by God: Though not the son of the promise, God still blessed Ishmael. He would be the father of 12 princes, forming a great nation.
  • Survival: After being sent away by Abraham, Ishmael and his mother survived the wilderness, thanks to God’s provision.
  • Skilled Archer: The Bible mentions that he grew up to be a skilled archer, symbolizing his strength and prowess.
    Founder of Nations: From him descended a great nation, just as God had promised.

Weaknesses and Mistakes

  • Tension with Isaac: Born in a complex family situation, Ishmael and his mother were eventually sent away due to tensions arising from his mocking of Isaac, the child of promise.
  • Conflictual Legacy: He is prophesied to be “a wild donkey of a man,” with his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him.

Lessons from His Life

  • Consequences of Impatience: Trying to fulfill God’s promise through human means (as Sarah did) can lead to long-lasting consequences, as seen in the tensions between Ishmael and Isaac’s descendants.
  • God’s Compassion: Despite the circumstances of his birth, God didn’t abandon Ishmael. God hears and responds to our cries in distress, just as He heard Hagar and Ishmael’s.
  • Every Individual Matters: Ishmael’s story shows that God has a plan for everyone, even those who might seem on the periphery of the “main” story.

Key Verses (NIV)

  • Genesis 16:11-12 – “The angel of the Lord also said to her: ‘You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.'”
  • Genesis 21:18 – “‘Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.'”