While in Gerar, God used Abraham to restore fertility to all the women in Abimelek’s household, yet Sarah remained barren. But not long after, the LORD was gracious to Sarah as He had promised. She conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had foretold. Abraham named him Isaac, meaning “he laughs”—a sign of how their initial sceptical laughter had turned into one of joy. Each time they called his name, they would be reminded of how God’s promise, once met with doubt, had been faithfully fulfilled.
The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. – Genesis 21:8 (NIV)
Sarah Threatened by Ishmael
In ancient times, a child’s weaning was considered a major milestone. Many children did not survive beyond infancy, so reaching the age of two or three, when weaning typically occurred, was seen as a sign that the child was likely to survive into adulthood and eventually become an heir. After Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a feast to celebrate the joyful occasion.
But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking – Genesis 21:9 (NIV)
However, despite the celebration, Sarah remained discontent. She saw Ishmael, Hagar’s son, mocking Isaac. The thought of her son having to share his inheritance with the child of her maidservant overwhelmed her. Ishmael was Abraham’s firstborn, and despite what Abraham may have said to reassure her, Sarah remained insecure about her own son’s future. In those times, the eldest son held certain privileges, and Ishmael had already been included by God in the covenant. This only deepened her concern, and determined, she convinced Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away.
It is striking how quickly Sarah forgot the grace shown to her by God, yet was unable to show the same compassion to Hagar. Sarah refers to God’s promise to Abraham as “my son’s inheritance,” as if it were something Isaac deserved, not something received by God’s grace. How quickly we turn our backs to God. After all the grace she had received, she couldn’t extend the same to Hagar. That’s what happens when we start thinking we deserve what we’ve been given. We stop seeing it as grace. And once we think we deserve it, we don’t want to share it, especially not with those we consider unworthy.
Abraham Sends Hagar Away (Again)
The matter deeply distressed Abraham because it involved his son. It’s unclear whether his sorrow was for Ishmael or for Isaac. Interestingly, we see him take a similar approach later with his other sons, sending them away with gifts to ensure they would not share in Isaac’s inheritance (Genesis 25:6).
But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.” – Genesis 21:12-13 (NIV)
Even though Ishmael and Hagar were treated poorly by Abraham and Sarah, God always had a plan for them. He brought the pregnant Hagar back to her mistress—perhaps because she wouldn’t have survived in the desert alone, or perhaps so that Ishmael could be formally accepted into Abraham’s family. Remember, the covenant of circumcision began with Ishmael, not Isaac.
God gave Abraham a chance to amend his mistake, but as soon as the power couple had a son of their own, Ishmael became excess baggage. Sarah, now secure in having her own heir, couldn’t wait to drive out the woman who had once tormented her. Abraham, who was seemingly distressed by Sarah’s request, did not even send his firstborn and the boy’s mother away with proper provisions. He was the richest man in the land and could have easily arranged a convoy to take Hagar back safely to her homeland. But he chose to send them off into the desert with barely anything.
It’s painful to note the contrast—when it came time to find a wife for Isaac, Abraham sent a full convoy with gifts and supplies. But when it came to Hagar and Ishmael, he sent them away empty. Yet even when Abraham cast them out so callously, God was still with Hagar and Ishmael. God never turned His back on them.
Hagar Meets God (Again)
On her journey, when Hagar ran out of water, she placed Ishmael under a bush, unable to watch him die, and sat at a distance, weeping. But God heard Ishmael’s cries and the angel of God comforted Hagar, telling her not to be afraid. She was assured that God had heard the boy and that He would make Ishmael into a great nation.
Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. – Genesis 21:19 (NIV)
Hagar couldn’t see the well of water even though it was right in front of her, until the angel of God opened her eyes. In the same way, we often fail to see God’s provision in our own lives. Our own tensions, heartbreak, and the habit of constantly dwelling on our problems can blind us. The distractions of the world—its pleasures, priorities, and pressures—pull our focus away. The evil one also works to keep us from recognising what God has already provided.
But sometimes, it’s us. We don’t want to see His way—we want ours. We don’t expect His provision because we’re too busy looking for our own solutions. Until our eyes are opened, like Hagar’s, we might miss the very answer that’s been right before us all along.
God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. – Genesis 21:20-21 (NIV)
A Blessed Life
At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. – Genesis 21:22-23 (NIV)
Having already experienced God’s power and judgment firsthand, Abimelek now saw that the LORD was clearly with Abraham, especially in blessing him with a son in his old age. Amazed by the grace and favour Abraham had received, Abimelek sought a treaty, recognising that God’s presence with Abraham made him someone not to be opposed, but allied with. Abraham’s contemporaries were often left in awe at how God dealt with him, and Abimelek’s request for a covenant reflects that recognition.
When we look at the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael from a worldly perspective, it may appear that Ishmael’s line was more “blessed.” Joseph was sold to Ishmael’s descendants—wealthy merchants—while Jacob’s family was struggling to survive a famine. Ishmael’s descendants were greater in number and seemed to prosper early on. Even today, Israel has often been without a clearly defined land and has lived under the control of other empires.
God’s blessings in our lives are not about material wealth, power, or comfort. His blessing is His presence, His promises, and His purpose being fulfilled in and through us. Isaac’s descendants were chosen to carry God’s covenant, to be set apart for His purposes, and through them came the Messiah. That is the true blessing: being part of God’s redemptive plan.
We often value the things of this world and label them as blessings from God. But the true blessing is not what Sarah experienced when she gave birth to Isaac in her old age. The real blessing is what Hagar experienced—the privilege of seeing God face to face. What truly holds value for us? Living according to the standards of this world, or being used by God to accomplish His plan in our lives?
Discussion Questions
- Why was the weaning of a child so important?
- Why did Sarah think that Isaac would have to share his inheritance with Ishmael?
- Why did God tell Hagar to return to her mistress, knowing that years later she would be cast out by Abraham and Sarah?
- What keeps us from recognising God’s provision even when it is right in front of us?
- Why does Abimelek want to enter into a treaty with Abraham?
- When we compare the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael, who truly received God’s blessing?
- What does that teach us about the nature of God’s blessings in our own lives?
The Jordan Valley 
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