9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. 10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. 12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. 13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. 14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba (Genesis 21:9-14).
This is a tough situation. A time that should have been a time of joy and unity was instead a time of distress. The distress was brought on ultimately by sin. However, even when human actions cause problems, God works all things out according to His will and purpose. God’s will was for the blessing to the world to come to all through Isaac. God did not ignore Ishmael, but He did allow Ishmael to be separated from Abraham and Isaac. While we may not understand in human terms why this had to be so, God in His wisdom and according to His will made it just so.
This is a tough situation. A time that should have been a time of joy and unity was instead a time of distress. The distress was brought on ultimately by sin. However, even when human actions cause problems, God works all things out according to His will and purpose. God’s will was for the blessing to the world to come to all through Isaac. God did not ignore Ishmael, but He did allow Ishmael to be separated from Abraham and Isaac. While we may not understand in human terms why this had to be so, God in His wisdom and according to His will made it just so.
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