The Beginning:
After God fulfills his promise to Abraham and Sarah by giving them Isaac, a feast is held when Isaac is weaned. During this time, Sarah observes Ishmael, the son born to Abraham through Hagar the Egyptian, in a way she interprets as threatening to Isaac’s position. Concerned about inheritance and family stability, Sarah demands that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away.
The Middle:
Abraham is distressed because Ishmael is his son, but God tells him to listen to Sarah, reaffirming that the covenant line will be established through Isaac. At the same time, God promises that Ishmael will also become a nation because he is Abraham’s offspring. Abraham provides Hagar with bread and water, and she departs with Ishmael into the wilderness near Beersheba. When their water runs out, Hagar places Ishmael under a bush and withdraws, unable to watch him die, as she weeps.
The End:
God hears the boy’s voice, and the angel of God calls to Hagar, telling her not to fear because God has heard Ishmael. God opens her eyes to a well of water, and she gives Ishmael a drink, preserving his life. Ishmael grows up in the wilderness, becomes an archer, and Hagar later takes a wife for him from Egypt, marking the continuation of God’s care and the promised future for him.
This account highlights God’s covenant purposes and his compassionate attention to those in distress. The narrative distinguishes the specific covenant line through Isaac while also affirming God’s faithful care for Ishmael as Abraham’s son. God’s hearing of Ishmael’s cry underscores that divine mercy is not limited to the chosen covenant bearer; God’s providence extends to the vulnerable and displaced while his promises advance according to his declared plan.
In the ancient Near East, inheritance and household status were closely tied to family security and social standing. Disputes involving heirs and concubines/servants could destabilize a household, and separation—though painful—could function as a decisive legal and social boundary. The story’s focus on water, wilderness travel, and a discovered well reflects real survival concerns in the semi-arid regions around the Negev and Beersheba.
“Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.” — Genesis 21:17
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. What event is being celebrated when Isaac is weaned?
2. How does God preserve Ishmael’s life after the water runs out in the wilderness?