Year not stated · Patriarchs

Hagar and Ishmael are sent away

After Isaac was weaned, Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away at God's direction. When their water was gone in the wilderness, God heard the boy, opened Hagar's eyes to a well, and promised to make Ishmael a great nation (Genesis 21:8-21).

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📖 Genesis 21:8–10

8So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned. 9But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son, 10and she said to Abraham, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!”

Connections

Quotation

Expel the slave woman and her son

Paul quotes Sarah's words about Hagar and Ishmael while explaining his illustration of the two women and two covenants.

Galatians 4:28–30

Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”

Genesis 21:10 records Sarah telling Abraham to send away the slave woman and her son. Galatians 4:30 asks what Scripture says and repeats her words before Paul says that believers are children of the free woman.

Quotation

The promise carried through Isaac

When recounting Abraham's offering of Isaac, Hebrews quotes God's earlier word that Abraham's offspring would be reckoned through Isaac.

Hebrews 11:17–19

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Genesis 21:12 assures Abraham that his offspring will be reckoned through Isaac; Hebrews 11:17-19 quotes that promise while describing Abraham's faith when he was tested.

Quotation

The promise through Isaac quoted in Romans

Paul quotes God's word to Abraham that his offspring would be reckoned through Isaac.

Romans 9:6–9

It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

Genesis 21:12 gives God's promise about Isaac. Romans 9:6-9 quotes it while explaining the children of the promise.

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