12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham: 13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, 14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, 15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations. 17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people. 18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
Ishmael the ‘Mocker’ – Review
Ishmael was fourteen years of age when Isaac was born. He had the godly influence of Abraham. By deduction we may understand what type of influence Hagar had upon him. We know that Hagar ‘despised Sarah’ so it is likely that this was a character trait that influenced Ishmael for we see it in his interaction with Isaac.
Sarah request Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away because she witnessed Ishmael ‘mocking’ Isaac (Genesis 21:9-10). This took place during the great feast that Abraham had made to celebrate the weaning of Isaac. This means that Ishmael was ‘laughing at’ or ‘deriding’ Isaac who would have been two or three years old. Sarah was going to have no part of Ishmael being an heir with Isaac. (Genesis 21:10). Abraham was displeased with Sarah’s demand. God spoke to Abraham and told him to do as Sarah asked and promised to make a nation of Ishmael (Genesis 21:12-13, 25:16) Abraham obeyed and sent them away with bread and water. Since this was after Isaac was weaned, Ishmael would have been between 16-18 years old. As far as we know, Abraham did not see Ishmael again. Ishmael appears later at Abraham’s burial (Genesis 25:9).
The Angel of the God Appears Again to Hagar – Review
When Hagar and Ishmael were making their journey, the angel of the God appeared to her (Genesis 21:17-21). God heard the voice of Ishmael and spoke to Hagar, promising that a great nation would come from Ishmael and then opened her eyes. Hagar then saw a well of water and gather water for drink. God was with Ishmael and he grew living in the wilderness of Paran and he became a great archer. Hagar took for Ishmael a wife from Egypt. Ishmael’s descendants settled near the eastern border of Egypt and lived in hostility toward all of their relatives (Genesis 25:18). Ishmael died in the presence of his brethren at the age of 137.
In Summary
These sons eventually took wives, had children, and through these children, tribes were formed. These tribes made up the nations that dwelt from Havilah to Shur, and from Egypt to Assyria. The descendants of Ishmael, however, were not the sole tribes in the Arabian Desert.
For scripture clearly shows us the government of God how it is worked out providentially within and outside of His covenant. We see God’s grace abound, and we see those who accept His grace and those who reject it. Depending upon the decision one makes, it will ultimately lead to one of two destinations…eternal life or eternal condemnation (second death). God calls all people, from all nations, from all ethnic backgrounds to make this decision of accepting the gift of salvation…a life changing gift. His word abides worthy of all trust to whatever it applies.
No more graphic a sketch was ever drawn than is given of Ishmael’s posterity in the words cited:
“Who hath sent out the wild-ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing” (Job 39:5-8).
Interestingly enough, it was through the Ishmaelites that Joseph was rescued (Genesis 37:25,28). This rescuing of Joseph by the Ishmaelites and taking him to Egypt was God working in humanity to bring about His plan (Genesis 45:5-7).
TWO SONS
Abraham had marked the result of the intermarriage of those who feared God and those who feared Him not, from the days of Cain to his own time. The consequences of his own marriage with Hagar, and of the marriage connections of Ishmael and Lot, were before him. The lack of faith on the part of Abraham and Sarah had resulted in the birth of Ishmael, the mingling of the righteous seed with the ungodly. The father’s influence upon his son was counteracted by that of the mother’s idolatrous kindred and by Ishmael’s connection with heathen wives. The jealousy of Hagar, and of the wives whom she chose for Ishmael, surrounded his family with a barrier that Abraham endeavored in vain to overcome.
Abraham’s early teachings had not been without effect upon Ishmael, but the influence of his wives resulted in established idolatry in his family. Separated from his father, and embittered by the strife and contention of a home destitute of the love and fear of God, Ishmael was driven to choose the wild, marauding life of the desert chief, “his hand” “against every man and every man’s hand against him.” Genesis 16:12. In his latter days, he repented of his evil ways and returned to his father’s God, but the stamp of character given to his posterity remained. The powerful nation descended from him were a turbulent, heathen people, who were ever an annoyance and affliction to the descendants of Isaac. PP 174
A Word From Paul
Galatians 4:22-31
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Notice that Paul is talking about the gospel, the two promises made by God – the two covenants; and it is interesting that he is using the metaphor of the two sons of Abraham. Paul emphasizes that one was by a bondmaid (Hagar – flesh – promise) and the other by a freewoman (Sarah).
When God made a promise to Abraham that Sarah will bear him a son, Abraham and Sarah was of old age. As we know, Sarah thought she would help God out and gave Hagar to Abraham to bear her a son and God’s promise would be fulfilled. This was a decision made of the flesh and not by the Spirit of God. Obviously, this was outside of God’s will.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Here Paul is talking about the two covenants. The Covenant that fails is Mount Sinai, and it fails because the children of Israel were trying to keep the commandments of God by their own efforts (Agar – flesh). Paul then speaks to national Israel (Jerusalem) of his time which is in bondage (works based religion).
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Paul here is speaking of the heavenly Jerusalem, which will one day come down from God. This is the city He said that he would build when He told the apostles that He was ‘going to prepare a place’. This is not speaking to the earthly Jerusalem here, for it is going to be destroyed along with the entire earth. We are told that the ‘heaven and the earth will pass away’; mean it will be destroyed. God is going to recreate this planet one day, restoring it to its original. The New Jerusalem will be the capitol of the entire earth…the entire universe. So, Paul is making a distinction between the two Jerusalem’s.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Just as Isaac was persecuted by the Ishmaelites and Midianites, Paul says it is still the same today.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Abraham’s two sons represents bondage and freedom: Ishmael representing bondage, and Isaac represents freedom. The decision of the flesh is represented by Ishmael, whereas Isaac came by the decision of promise by God. Ishmael tends to Sinai which is of bondage because of the Israelites own works; compared to Isaac who tends to the heavenly Jerusalem which is of freedom because of faith. Ishmael is the persecutor, whereas Isaac represents the persecuted. When speaking of Isaac, we are referring to modern day believers who follow Jesus Christ all over the globe…we are graphed in and become spiritual Israel. This has zero to do with physical Israel. Ishmael is casted away, not an heir. Isaac is an heir of promise. We are to teach that any religion outside of Jesus Christ is not biblical. We are to teach the gospel, which is the promise of salvation…only found in Jesus Christ through his atoning work on the cross and the his resurrection of the dead.