The time came, after twenty-five years of waiting, for The LORD to visit Sarah with the promise of a son (v1). The LORD was true to His promise as He always is. Sarah conceived (v2-7) and bore Abraham a son just at the time set by God. Abraham called him Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day at God’s command. Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah 90years old. Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”
One would have thought their problems would have been over now that God’s promise had been fulfilled, but that was not the case. Don’t forget Ishmael was there, now thirteen years old with his mother Hagar. Everything seemed to have gone smoothly since Hagar’s return and being subject to her mistress, but now things were different. Old arguments come back as now there is some jealousy. Hagar was scoffing at Sarah and Isaac (v8-11). Abraham had made a feast when Isaac was weaned, and it sparked off differences. Sarah told Abraham that he must throw out Hagar and her son as there wasn’t room for both. Sarah wanted to ensure that Isaac was the heir and not Ishmael. God had already said that Isaac would be the heir so why was Sarah doubting this? Abraham was unhappy at Sarah’s word as he obviously had a great affection for Ishmael as his son. Ishmael was the one who scoffed at Isaac. This was natural and born out of jealousy.
Jealousy is a serious sin, just as all sin is, but it does lead to conflicts. This was the conflict of the flesh against God’s way. We must be careful in what we do. The Bible says we should not show favouritism, this was a problem with Jacob and Joseph later in this book. Let’s remember that Ishmael was born out of Abraham’s sin in not trusting God, and it is inevitable that the flesh wars against the things of the Spirit of God. Isaac was the son of the covenant; Ishmael was the son of the flesh.
We all, as believers, face a battle of the flesh against the Spirit and Paul tells us in Galatians 5:24 that, “…. those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” ‘Crucified’ is a strong word, remember that our Lord was crucified, but we are to deal with the fleshly desires exactly the same way – put them to death.
He may not have thought he should do what Sarah said so he sought The LORD. God told Abraham to do as Sarah said for the covenant promise was through Isaac (v12-14). However, God said that He would also make a great nation of Ishmael. Abraham sent Hagar and the boy away early in the morning with bread and water provisions and she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
It may have seemed hard but this was God’s command and thus with God’s help all would turn out right. In verses 15 to 18 we see that God cared for them. “And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.””
Their supplies ran out and Hagar cried out to The LORD and it seems that Ishmael also cried out to the LORD and God answered. He said, “I have heard the voice of the lad.” God’s promise gave Hagar and Ishmael reason to fear not. God showed special favor to Ishmael because he was a descendant of Abraham. God said, “I will make him a great nation:” Though Ishmael was not the son to receive the covenant promise, God was not against him. The descendants of Ishmael became a great nation, the Arabs.
God opened her eyes and Hagar saw a well of water (v19-21). I assume it wasn’t seen before. May well have been a miracle as she only saw it when God opened her eyes. Whatever it was, it was God’s provision for them both. Ishmael was blessed with God’s presence, and he grew up and became an archer and his mother took a wife for him from Egypt.
Abraham then makes an agreement with Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army (v22-24). Whether this was the king, in chapter 20, I don’t know. It is thought that it could be a title. It was a person of some importance and his army captain because they made an agreement with Abraham, to maintain good relations with him and his offspring. They clearly wanted Abraham on their side for they recognised that God was on his side.
The greatest blessing anyone can have from God is His own presence in a person’s life.
It seems that there had been a disagreement over a well (v25-31). Abimelech’s servants had taken possession of it. Abraham had evidently dug the well, so they made a covenant by Abraham giving seven ewe lambs as a witness. He called the place Beersheba. Wells were important places especially for travellers, shepherds, and herds as well as dwellers in towns and cities. In those days it was their only water supply.
Beersheba became an important landmark in Israel, even today when it is called Beer-Sheva. It is mentioned many times in Scripture and even became a common phrase describing the land of Israel from north to south, from Dan to Beersheba (e.g. Judges 20:1). After making the covenant Abimelech and Phichol returned to their own land and Abraham planted a tree in Beersheba and called on the name of The LORD, the Everlasting God (v32-34).
