Background and Context:

Hagar, an Egyptian maidservant, was given to Abram (later Abraham) by his wife Sarai (later Sarah) as a concubine to bear a child, due to Sarah's barrenness. This arrangement was culturally acceptable at the time, though it led to significant familial strife. Hagar bore Abram a son, Ishmael, which initially fulfilled Sarai's desire for Abram to have an heir. However, the birth of Isaac, the son of promise, to Sarah later complicated the family dynamics.

Biblical Account:

The narrative of Hagar and Ishmael being sent away is found in Genesis 21:8-21. The tension in Abraham's household reached a climax during a feast celebrating Isaac's weaning. Sarah observed Ishmael mocking Isaac, which prompted her to demand that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away. Sarah's insistence was rooted in her concern for Isaac's inheritance and position as the child of promise.

Genesis 21:10 records Sarah's demand: "Drive out this slave woman and her son, for the son of this slave woman will never be a co-heir with my son Isaac!" This request distressed Abraham, as Ishmael was also his son. However, God reassured Abraham, instructing him to heed Sarah's words, promising that Ishmael would also become a nation because he was Abraham's offspring (Genesis 21:12-13).

The Departure:

Abraham, in obedience to God's directive, provided Hagar with bread and a skin of water and sent her and Ishmael into the wilderness of Beersheba. As the water ran out, Hagar despaired, fearing for her son's life. In her distress, she placed Ishmael under a shrub and wept at a distance, unable to witness his suffering.

God heard the boy's cries, and an angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, offering reassurance and guidance. Genesis 21:17-18 states: "Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he lies. Get up, lift up the boy and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation."

Divine Provision and Promise:

God opened Hagar's eyes to a well of water, providing the necessary sustenance for their survival. This divine intervention underscored God's faithfulness to His promises and His care for all of Abraham's descendants. Ishmael grew up in the wilderness, becoming an archer, and eventually settled in the Desert of Paran. Hagar found him a wife from Egypt, further establishing his lineage.

Theological Significance:

The account of Hagar and Ishmael being sent away highlights several key theological themes. It underscores the sovereignty of God's plan, as Isaac was the child through whom God's covenant with Abraham would be fulfilled. Yet, it also demonstrates God's compassion and provision for those outside the covenant line, as seen in His care for Hagar and Ishmael.

This narrative also serves as a reminder of the complexities and consequences of human actions, particularly when they deviate from divine promises. The tension between Sarah and Hagar, and the subsequent separation, illustrate the challenges of faith and obedience in the face of personal and familial conflict.

Legacy:

Ishmael is traditionally considered the ancestor of various Arab tribes, and his legacy is significant in both biblical and extra-biblical traditions. The promise that Ishmael would become a great nation is seen as fulfilled in the proliferation of his descendants. The account of Hagar and Ishmael continues to be a poignant reminder of God's mercy and the unfolding of His redemptive plan through history.