Question 1

Why was Sarah so upset with Ishmael’s mocking of Isaac?

Accepted Answer

Sarah saw Ishmael’s mocking as more than normal teasing. The story hints that his attitude showed contempt toward Isaac and toward the special promise God had given about Isaac. It may also have touched the question of who would be heir, since Ishmael was the older son. Sarah feared that Ishmael’s spirit and influence would threaten Isaac’s place as the child of promise. Her strong words, asking Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away, came from this concern for Isaac and for what God had said about him.

Question 2

What does the phrase “in Isaac shall thy seed be called” mean?

Accepted Answer

When God says, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called,” he is telling Abraham that the promised line will come through Isaac, not Ishmael. God had already promised many descendants and blessing through Abraham. Here he makes clear that this covenant family, the line through which blessing and salvation would spread, is counted through Isaac. Ishmael is still Abraham’s son and will become a nation, but he does not carry the same covenant role. This shows that being an heir of God’s promise depends on God’s choice and grace.

Question 3

Why did God tell Abraham to listen to Sarah and send Hagar and Ishmael away?

Accepted Answer

Abraham was deeply grieved at the thought of sending away his son, which shows his real love for Ishmael. God told him not to let this crush him, but to listen to Sarah, because God’s plan was to carry the covenant promise through Isaac. God used Sarah’s demand, even though it sounds harsh, to bring about a needed separation between the child of promise and the child born in a different way. At the same time, God kindly promised Abraham that Ishmael would also become a great nation.

Question 4

How did God care for Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness when the water ran out?

Accepted Answer

Hagar and Ishmael wandered in the wilderness with only a little bread and water. When the water was gone, Hagar expected her son to die and could not bear to watch, so she sat at a distance and wept. God heard the boy’s cry and sent the angel of God to speak to her, telling her not to fear and repeating the promise to make Ishmael a great nation. Then God opened her eyes to see a well that was already there. She filled the bottle and gave Ishmael a drink, and God was with him as he grew.

Question 5

What does this passage show about God’s character toward those outside the covenant line?

Accepted Answer

Even though Ishmael is not the child through whom the main promise will run, God still cares for him. God hears the voice of the lad where he is, in a dry and hopeless place. He gives water when there seems to be no way to live and promises to make Ishmael into a great nation. This shows that God’s kindness reaches beyond the main covenant family. He does not ignore the hurting or the cast off, but sees them, speaks to them, and provides what they need to live and move forward.

Question 6

Why did Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away with such simple provisions?

Accepted Answer

Abraham gave Hagar bread and a bottle of water and sent her away early in the morning. The story does not say he armed her richly or set her up with comfort. This underlines that they were really being removed from his household and its blessings. It also shows Abraham’s hard obedience: he lets them go as God said, trusting God to care for them rather than keeping them close for his own comfort. Their low and needy state in the wilderness pictures what life is like apart from the place of God’s covenant care.

Question 7

What is the meaning of God opening Hagar’s eyes to see the well of water?

Accepted Answer

Hagar was overwhelmed with fear and grief, sure that her son would die. The well seems to have been nearby, but she did not see it until God opened her eyes. This shows how easily trouble can blind us to the help God has already placed within reach. God does not create water out of nothing here, but helps her notice what he has provided. It is a picture of his gentle mercy in times of despair, giving both a clear promise for the future and practical help for the present moment.

Question 8

How does the story of Hagar and Ishmael being sent away apply to believers today?

Accepted Answer

This passage reminds believers that following God can involve painful choices, even within families, when God’s call and natural feelings pull in different directions. It shows that God may separate what is born from human planning from what comes from his promise. At the same time, it encourages those who feel pushed aside or forgotten. God heard Ishmael, spoke comfort to Hagar, and gave them a path forward. Today, this can steady us to trust God’s promise, obey him, and believe he still sees and provides in our deserts.

Question 9

Why does this story seem harsh, and how can we understand it faithfully?

Accepted Answer

Many readers struggle with how hard this story sounds, especially for Hagar and Ishmael. The passage itself shows that Abraham was deeply grieved, and Hagar was in despair. Yet God explains that the covenant promise will follow Isaac, and he personally steps in to care for Ishmael. So the story holds both real pain and real mercy. It helps to see that God is not cold toward Ishmael but gives him blessing in another way. Faithful readers can admit the difficulty while also trusting God’s wise and kind purpose.

Genesis 21:9

¶ And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

Sarah Turns against Hagar

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Genesis 21:9

¶ And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

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Sarah Turns against Hagar

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