The year was approximately 1892 B.C., when the Lord fulfilled His promise to Abraham. Both Abraham and Sarah had laughed when God said that 90-year-old Sarah would have a son. But it was a different story when the promised son did arrive – and joyous laughter would be heard in Abraham’s tent.
GENESIS 21:1-8
21 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
But for Ishmael, Abraham’s son by Hagar, Issac’s presence caused jealousy and resentment. He had been the apple of his father’s eye until Isaac came – and we can naturally expect jealousy to be demonstrated towards his half brother. At the feast Sarah sees Ishmael mocking, or teasing the little Isaac, who is perhaps 2-3 years old at the weaning. Sarah, knew that Ishmael was old enough, at around age 16-17, to know better.
GENESIS 21:9-13
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
Sarah was very upset at Ishmael’s behavior, and Abraham was upset at losing his son. But the Lord told him that Sarah was right – and that he must cast out the bondwoman and her son. Though it was painful – Abraham obeyed in faith – believing that if he did God’s will, that everything will turn out right.
God cared for Ishmael as he promised Abraham He would. Through this extremity, Ishmael met the Lord; and God promised to make of him a great nation. These are the tender mercies of God, because Abraham believed in faith.
GENESIS 21:14-21
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
AN ALLEGORY OF LAW AND GRACE
GALATIANS 4:22-24
22 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.
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.
GALATIANS 4:28-31
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.
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.
Ishmael and Isaac represent a spiritual allegory of law and grace (unmerited favor.) Hagar and Ishmael represent the law at Sinai, while Sarah and Issac represent God’s grace at Calvary. The two principles – law and grace – are always in conflict! They can not coexist. The “law” represents all of man’s best efforts to earn favor with God, while “grace” represents favor from God that is not earned.
The law principle must be “cast out” of our lives in order for us to receive grace. We need grace both for our salvation, and for our daily walk with God. Salvation and victory in the Christian life are always done through faith, not through the law – not through trying to earn God’s favor by good works.
GALATIANS 3:6-7
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
GALATIANS 3:11
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
The Vine Vigil 