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Patriarchs and Prophets
thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.” And
as a perpetual reminder of His mercy, she was bidden to call her child
Ishmael, “God shall hear.”
When Abraham was nearly one hundred years old, the promise
of a son was repeated to him, with the assurance that the future heir
should be the child of Sarah. But Abraham did not yet understand the
promise. His mind at once turned to Ishmael, clinging to the belief
that through him God’s gracious purposes were to be accomplished.
In his affection for his son he exclaimed, “O that Ishmael might live
before Thee!” Again the promise was given, in words that could not
be mistaken: “Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou
shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish My covenant with him.”
Yet God was not unmindful of the father’s prayer. “As for Ishmael,”
He said, “I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, ... and I will
make him a great nation.”
The birth of Isaac, bringing, after a lifelong waiting, the fulfillment
of their dearest hopes, filled the tents of Abraham and Sarah with
gladness. But to Hagar this event was the overthrow of her fondly
cherished ambitions. Ishmael, now a youth, had been regarded by all
in the encampment as the heir of Abraham’s wealth and the inheritor
of the blessings promised to his descendants. Now he was suddenly
set aside; and in their disappointment, mother and son hated the child
of Sarah. The general rejoicing increased their jealousy, until Ishmael
dared openly to mock the heir of God’s promise. Sarah saw in Ish-
mael’s turbulent disposition a perpetual source of discord, and she
appealed to Abraham, urging that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away
from the encampment. The patriarch was thrown into great distress.
How could he banish Ishmael his son, still dearly beloved? In his
perplexity he pleaded for divine guidance. The Lord, through a holy
angel, directed him to grant Sarah’s desire; his love for Ishmael or
Hagar ought not to stand in the way, for only thus could he restore
harmony and happiness to his family. And the angel gave him the
consoling promise that though separated from his father’s home, Ish-
mael should not be forsaken by God; his life should be preserved, and
he should become the father of a great nation. Abraham obeyed the
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angel’s word, but it was not without keen suffering. The father’s heart
was heavy with unspoken grief as he sent away Hagar and his son.