The Word of God Devotional and Evangelical Help and Hope Ministries sealHelp & HopeMinistries
← The People of Genesis: Lives Touched by God

Lesson 2 of 12 · Genesis 17:18–21; 21:8–21; 25:9–18

Ishmael: Cast Out but Not Forgotten

Abraham's firstborn son is sent away with his mother, yet God hears the boy's voice, opens Hagar's eyes to a well, and keeps every promise made about him.

“And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.””

Genesis 21:17 (NKJV)

Ishmael grew up in Abraham's tent for about fourteen years as the only son. Abraham loved him. When God promised a son through Sarah, Abraham said, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” God answered that the covenant would be established with Isaac, yet He did not ignore Abraham's prayer: “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him.” He promised twelve princes and a great nation.

At Isaac's weaning feast Sarah saw Ishmael “scoffing.” She said, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son.” Scripture says honestly, “the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son.” God told Abraham to listen to Sarah, “for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.”

Abraham rose early, gave Hagar bread and a skin of water, and sent them away. In the Wilderness of Beersheba the water ran out. Hagar placed the boy under a shrub, sat down about a bowshot away and said, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” She lifted her voice and wept. Then comes one of the most beautiful sentences in Genesis: “And God heard the voice of the lad.” The boy whose name means God hears was heard.

The angel of God called to Hagar: “Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.” Notice — where he is. God did not wait for Ishmael to come back to Abraham's tent. He met him under a bush in the desert. “Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.” The water had been there all along; she needed God to open her eyes. “So God was with the lad,” and he grew and became an archer in the Wilderness of Paran.

Ishmael was not erased from the family story. When Abraham died, “his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah.” Genesis 25 records the twelve princes born to Ishmael — exactly what God had promised. The covenant line ran through Isaac, but God's faithfulness reached Ishmael too. Being outside the line of the promise did not mean being outside the care of God.

Going deeper

God hears “where he is”

The phrase “where he is” is a word of comfort for every parent and every prodigal. God hears our children in the wilderness places, in the hospital, in a jail cell, in a far city. Psalm 34 says, “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.”

Opened eyes

Hagar did not need a new well; she needed opened eyes. Many times our provision is near, but grief and fear keep us from seeing it. Like the two disciples on the Emmaus road, whose eyes were opened to see the risen Christ, we need the Lord to show us what He has already placed beside us.

Key points

  • God told Abraham, “As for Ishmael, I have heard you.”
  • Abraham grieved when Ishmael was sent away.
  • God heard the voice of the lad “where he is.”
  • God opened Hagar's eyes to see a well of water.
  • God kept His promise of twelve princes from Ishmael.

Reflect

  • Who in your family feels cast out? How can you pray for them “where they are”?
  • What provision might God be waiting to open your eyes to see?
  • How does Ishmael's story show both God's choosing and God's compassion?

Prayer

Father, thank You that You hear the voice of the lad where he is. I lift up to You every child, grandchild and loved one in a wilderness place. Hear them, meet them and be with them. Open my eyes to the wells You have already provided. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Loading your quiz…