The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 343

Hence lie had_ prayed, "0 that Ish!11ael might li':o before thee 11 (eh. :xvii. 18). P~rhnps unbelief had n_iuch to do with the expression of the hope. He indicated his own contentment with that mode of fulfilment of the promises•1 God however has another. Abraham ev\dently _lo:cd the lad, and now that he is gro,~n to be ~ stalwart youth of about suteen, 1t 1s strongly against his inclination to send him away. Snrnh ins\sts. She in her indignati•m will not even speak of him by his nam"', but caJis lmn ~ontemptuously "the son of this bondwoman" (eh. x.xi. 10). Abrnh?m ~·as very grieved (ver. 11), but lie can see thnt there is no prospect of nny peace m his encam~ment !lnl~ss he shou~d do _as Sarnh wishes. Two jealous women sre enough to embitter !us hfe, and brmg discord eventuaJly amon"' his retainers. For typical reasons the banishment was permitted by God (ver. 12) and Abraham sends both away, lnden probably not only with trinkets, which shall suffice for barter hut with a flask of water and strings of small loaves. Abraham had thus to sacrific~ his o"·n inclinations in Ishmael, his son after the flesh, as afterwards his will in offering up Isaac, his chi!~ of promise. Away towards Egypt Hagar and Ishmael travel. They enter the wilderness of Beersheba. Happiness and home is behind • desolateness, dreariness, lonely journeyings, imminent dangers from the wild beast; and fierce hordes of men, with Egypt, before them. . Hagar; with bread dry and water spent, losing her way, waits for some one to guide. Unable to proceed she and her son sink down to die, to perish in the scorching heat from that most fe~rful of all deprivations, water. Hagar, with bitter memories of lost happiness and unjust treatment crowding, cannot bear the sight of her son's woe and sound of his moaning, therefore removes to a slight distance, that she might not see bis death nor <listurb it as she sought to ease her poor heart with tears. Oh, what morn! beauty blossoms in the desert in the maternal love of this outcast bondwoman. No human <'ye detects it, but God notices and bears her voice, and that of the child. Then comes the direction from heaven, and the promise, " I will make of him a great nation." We are told immediately afterwards in the brief record concerning Ishmael that" God was with the lad," nnd so the promise was fulfilled. We notice God's care even for an Ishmael, for one who would appear to be outside all covenant bless- ings. He was one whose "hand was to be against every man, and every man's against him" (eh. xvi. 12). God manifested care, however, to this Ishmael- 1 BY PRESERVING HIS LIFE. He heard his cry in distress. He knew his needs. God always knows our needs; whence to supply them, and where to find us even in the wilderness. A well of water is unexpectedly pointed out to the mother. Her eyes were opened to see its whereabouts. So God teaches many a mother, that she may lead her children to the well of living water. Every life preserved is only through the mercy of God. "In his hand our breath is" (Dan. v. 23). There is a well for bondsmen as well as free. God's living well is to be reached in any position of life. It is near to as when we think it far off. "The word is nigh thee, in thine ]1eart," &c. (Rom. :x. 8). If we are to see the treasure, .o.ur spiritual un_derstanding must be quickened, our "eyes opened" by the Holy S1;>mt. If we desire to kno-:v the way and well of life, we can pray for that openmg. Only as we have tins spiritunl sight and life can we rejoice in the present existence, in our preservation. God preserved Ishmael that he might know him. II. Gc,D ADVANCED HIM IN Lll'E. He was with him as he grew up, nnd gave him favour in the sight of others. God is ever seeking by hi_s Holy Spirit to n~ould tho character of tl,e worst for good. If we ha"\-·e any prospenty and grow up to mfluence, we should remember that it is from God. The darkest hour for Ishmael ho.d ushered in the clawr1ing of the brightent day. God knew what he would do with Ishmael. I~hmael is to founcl a nation. It is remarkable that he was the ancestor of the same number of tribes as ,vas Israel ( eh. :x:xv. 16). He found various scattered people in the Arabian desert, but the tribes descended from him seem to hnve absorbed all otl1ers. What an honour to be the founder of a house, n dynasty; how much more of a nation ! This God granted to an Ishmael. III. Goo GAVE HIM SKILL. "He became nn archer." He had to learn to clefend himBelf, and secure for himself, by God's help, a position. The fighting power is not the highest, but man has always had to protect himself before he could make pro- gress in civilisation. Alas, when he supposes himself to be civilised he often clings  en. xxr. 15-21.] 'l'HE BOOK OF GENESIS. 27!)