A Tale of Two Sons

Genesis 21: 8-21

Sarah casts out

Hagar and Ishmael

The elder son of Abraham was named Ishmael, born of Hagar, the Egyptian maid. And the younger son, Isaac, was born of Abraham's wife, Sarah. When Ishmael was a teen, Isaac was about three years old, a weaning age. Abraham was greatly pleased and threw a feast to celebrate.

During the feast, Sarah saw Ishmael to be “laughing or mocking” at Isaac. Sarah was very much “worried” seeing Ishmael’s “laughing”. She was fearful that Isaac's position was threatened. She told Abraham to cast out Hagar and son from home, so that Isaac could claim the sole right as heir of the family. Sarah was taken over by jealousy and feeling of insecurity. She did not trust the LORD for he had already promised that Isaac was the chosen seed of Abraham, not Ishmael.

Abraham was fearful to lose both Hagar and Ishmael, and he too worried about their safety. To cast Hagar and her son out of home is contrary to the prevailing custom. Abraham was very displeased over Sarah’s request, but God commanded him: "Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, does as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” (Vv.12-13)

God’s covenanted son is Isaac, not Ishmael, although both sons are from Abraham's seed. Ishmael must be placed away so as to remove things that threatens (or obstructs) the promise of God being fulfilled. However, we learn that God's grace is sufficient for Ishmael too.

Jesus said through a parable, that the Heavenly Father threw a banquet of salvation, and He sent His servants to go to the city streets "to invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, the lame into the banquet" (Luke 14:21).

These guests are the people who are outside the covenant between God and Israel. But Jesus Christ shed his blood to make a new covenant for them. So whoever repents from his sin and believes in Jesus will be received into the house to partake the salvation banquet.

All nations receive salvation through Abraham's seed - Jesus Christ. This is the fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham that all nations shall be blessed because of him (Gen. 12:1-3).

Ensure the Success of the Second Half Time

Ten years ago, Hagar fled from home during pregnancy. That time Abraham was indifferent, letting Sarah treat Hagar ruthlessly. But this time, Abraham is no longer passive and merciless. He rejected Sarah’s demand to cast out Hagar and son. Abraham has learnt the lessons from his past failures. He is making it up to Hagar and son this time. So Abraham has grown in maturity.

In fact life is like a soccer match, there is first and second half time. If a player in the first half performs poorly, he has the second half time to make it up. We see here Abraham is one such player.

We must not bury our own mistakes and weaknesses, but be courageous enough to remedy our past failures. Through reflection and careful observation, we are to identify the problems then turn around from our mistakes, than keep repeating them.

Let’s ask God for help so that we can transform from apathy, conflict and misunderstanding, to love, acceptance and understanding. The power of the gospel not only can heal bodily sicknesses but also heals broken relationships and past mistakes.

Cry out to God in Suffering and Obey Him, One Can Experience His wonderful Providence

Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. Hagar, on one hand holding Ishmael, the other hand holding the bread, departed and wandered in the wilderness, and finally went astray in the wilderness of Beersheba—“the Well of Seven”.

Hagar's life has come to a confused and disoriented state, not knowing where to go, how to find a way out? What to do next? How to survive and take care of her child? Although Hagar was at the Beersheba—the Well of Seven, she could not see the well of water. She was blinded to the presence of God and his provision.

Fear not, God indeed protects and provides for the people exiled in the wilderness!

Hagar was physically and mentally exhausted; losing the will to move forward; moreover the water has ran out. She put the child under the shade of bushes. Hagar was desperate and was going to abandon the child leaving him to die. The shade of bushes helped Ishmael to endure the thirst, for he could have become dizzy due to thirst and dehydration.

And Hagar herself went and sat down opposite her son at a distance away, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as Hagar sat down, she lifted up her voice and wept. With tears and crying out loud, she released all her grievances that had been suppressed in her all these while.

At this time, God intervenes because he heard the cries of the boy. Ishmael, meaning "God hears"! And the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is."(v.17)

God not only heard the voice of the boy but he was at the place where the boy cried. God heard the voice of the boy where he was!

Today, let us cry out to God, no matter where we are. In the work place, in the car, in the inner heart, in the crowded places, or in solitude, there and then God hears our cries. We may feel that no one hears us, but God hears. He is well aware of the difficulties that we are going through.

Besides crying out to God, what else can we do to receive God’s divine intervention?

The angel of God said to Hagar, "Get up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” (v.18)

God commanded Hagar to get up, do not sit there feeling frustrated, waiting to die. She not only must stand up, but also give a hand to Ishmael to lift him up as well.

Hagar obeyed God’s command and when lifting her son, she saw something she and Ishmael most in need of – a well of water! She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. (V.19)

Hagar obeyed God's command to act and immediately God came to her rescue!

When people are feeling desperate and in sadness, they often indulge in misery, refusing to listen to words of comfort and encouragement. They immerse themselves in sorrows to the extent of attempting suicide, for being abandoned by their lover or getting worse than expected examination results.

Nevertheless God speaks to us in our grief and sorrow. The person, who takes heed of God's order, will be able to undergo the transformation.

Today, we can break out from the predicament by virtue of God's provision, if we act in accordance with God's instructions. Let's pray to God and obey His instructions and commit our lives into His hands. God speaks to people through different channels. The question is, are you willing to open your heart to listen and carry out God's commands?

God cares for Hagar and her son’s needs, providing them with the water to drink. They desire a little water to satisfy the pressing need but God provided them a well of water, which is far more than they had asked. God keeps watch of them, so that they can go from “being thirsty" to "have a drink", even to "possess a well of water."

God did not let them die in the wilderness, but gave them new life, as well as a promising future. Hagar alone has to take up both the mother's and father's responsibilities of raising up the child, similar to today’s single-parent. When Abraham could not fulfil the father's responsibility, God stands in to be the father of the fatherless.

Hagar and Ishmael were exiled from home, seemed helpless, but this situation has also allowed them to be set free, no more slaves under Sarah’s dominion. Ishmael while growing up in a single-parent family, God was with him. He lived in the wilderness and became an archer. He became very healthy and robust. He married the daughter of Egypt, became the patriarch of the twelve tribes. He is hailed as the ancestors of the Arabs.

Ishmael through expulsion from home was elevated through the rank of heroes, such as: Moses, Joseph, Jacob, David and Esther. The sufferings they underwent have shaped into them the qualities of a hero.

On the other hand, Isaac was well taken care of by his parents and grew up at home. He later turned to be a very passive, subtle, homely and quiet person. Our human encounter and final outcome of life are often beyond our expectation!

The conclusion is: we must not lose faith in God after encountering setbacks and mishaps in life. Let’s hold on to the faith and hope, asking God to help us overcome the sufferings and predicaments in life.

Those who trust in the Lord and obey him, while experiencing sufferings and setbacks, will experience the blessings of God far beyond what they could have imagined.