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PAGE 19
Hagar
The Mother of a Great Nation
"God heard the boy crying and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, 'What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.'" -- (Genesis 21:17-18)
(Bible Study Online Article Covers : Genesis 21:18-21)
Short Recap?
In the last article, we learned that after Abraham had decided to throw Hagar and his son, Ishmael, out into the wilderness. The Sacred Record revealed that times had gotten tough for Hagar and her son, for we'd learned that the food supplies that Abraham had given to Hagar and Ishmael had begun to run low. The two had already run out of water: "When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes." -- Genesis 21:15
And just like the passage just revealed, Hagar had directed Ishmael to go and lie under a nearby bush. His health was quickly deteriorating, for he no longer had the water or food to sustain his strength. And because of this, Hagar had begun to cry, for she'd feared that Ishmael would soon die: "Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bow-shot away, for she thought, 'I cannot watch the boy die.' And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob." -- Genesis 21:16
And as we would soon find out, the Lord would hear both the cries of Hagar and Ishmael.
Therefore, the Lord would send an angel down to help calm Hagar down and reassure her that everything will be okay:
"God heard the boy crying and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, 'What is the matter, Hagar?
'Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.'" -- (Genesis 21:17-18)
However, that may have been. I would like to take this moment to briefly point out something when it comes to Hagar and Ishmael's recorded account.
From within the wilderness of Beersheba? The Holy Scriptures suggest that Ishmael was still a very young child. But at this time in his life, he had to be between the ages of 17 and 19. Also, keep in mind that he was 14 years of age when Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah.
And at such an age, I often wonder, why wasn't Ishmael doing more when it came to helping his mother while she was fighting for their survival out in the wilderness? Now, you would think that with him being at such an age filled with vitality and strength, he would have fared much better in the wilderness than his mother did.
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Was Ishmael Pampered?
However, this wasn't the case, and personally, I figure that Ishmael was a child to whom his father gave everything, for you must know that Abraham loved him so much. Also, keep in mind that for at least 13 years, not only was Ishmael Abraham's first child, but he was also his only child. Now, because of Abraham's strong feelings towards Ishmael, I can see how Ishmael could have had a pampered life.
In fact, I can see Ishmael being pampered up until he was forced to leave his father's household along with his mother. And remember that all of this stemmed from the ongoing feud that was constantly taking place between his mother, Hagar, and Sarah.
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Hagar Get A Hold of Yourself?
However that may have been, as we turn our attention back towards God and Hagar, we now find that at this point, God had to calm Hagar down in order for her to quickly come to her senses. You must know that she was so distraught and distracted by her concerns and fears for her son Ishmael that there was a good chance that she wasn't able to see or think straight when it came to her current ordeal.
So this is why we find that the following passage reads like this: "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
Understand that this doesn't mean that Hagar was blind at this time or that God had done a miracle by creating a water well from nowhere. No, it just means that Hagar was too distracted and distraught regarding her fears and concerns for her son Ishmael. And because of her very fragile mental state, she wasn't able to notice that God had already placed the needed survival provisions around her and her son Ishmael.
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God Stayed With Ishmael?
Next, we find that the Holy Scriptures would also confirm that God was with the boy as he grew into a man. And we're told that Ishmael ended up settling from within the "Desert of Paran" and that he had eventually become an archer. Also, know that Ishmael would get married to an Egyptian woman that his mother, later on, had found for him:
"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
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Hagar's Blessing in Disguise?
Now, it is fascinating that the unfortunate treatment that Hagar and Ishmael had suffered could have been a blessing in disguise. Even though the harsh treatment that Hagar and her son had received was brought on by themselves? But despite this, and as I'd expressed earlier, I often wonder if their ordeal was some blessing in disguise. And honestly, what was it? And here's why.
With all the fighting she had been doing with Sarah for so many years, Hagar now had some peace and joy in her life, something that she hadn't had for a long time. Also, keep in mind that Hagar served as Sarah's maidservant or slave while she lived in Abraham's household.
Even though Hagar was now living out in the desert on her own, she understood that she was no longer a slave or a servant to someone. At this point in her life, she was a free and independent woman. Through her son Ishmael, she would also be blessed by becoming the mother of a great nation.
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Ishmael's Blessing in Disguise?
Also, keep in mind that Ishmael had to be removed from Abraham's household for him to serve his true purpose as well. For you must know that Ishmael's purpose dealt with him (in his own right) to become the great nation that God had proclaimed him to be:
"God heard the boy crying and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, 'What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.'" -- (Genesis 21:17-18)
And know that this had to have happened because God had already made a promise to both Abraham and Hagar, for we must never forget that God always keeps His promises.
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The Lord's Promised to Abraham?
Also remember God's promise to Abraham: "Do not be so distressed about the boy [Ishmael] and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your [Abraham's] offspring." -- Genesis 21:12,13
In the next Bible Study Online Article:
So we just learned that Hagar and Ishmael was able to survive the wilderness, and that God had stayed with Ishmael, as he grew into the man that he was destine to be. And we'd also learned that Hagar would benefit greatly, from Ishmael's destiny as well. But now we begin to move forward. And it's at this time, that we find Abraham running into that king, that was known as Abimelech, once again. Hmm... I wonder, if things will turn out differently, between the two?
May God blessings be upon you, and thank you for your support
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The Sons of God - The Daughters of Men
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Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty
16) Abimelech Angry with Abraham
18) Hagar & Ishmael - Sent Away
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20) Abraham & The Well of Oath
21) Abraham & The Great Sacrifice
25) Rebekah gets Permission to Leave
28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael
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