Genesis 21

The key point in the story of Ishmael and Isaac is God’s statement to Abraham in verse 12: “. . . it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Ishmael had to be expelled so that there would be no doubt as to which son would be in the covenant line. It is God alone who chooses which son will receive the inheritance. He chose Isaac; and through Isaac, the child of promise, He ultimately chooses us.

14–21 As Hagar and Ishmael wandered out into the desert, two remarkable events occurred. First, when they were near death because of lack of water, Ishmael began to cry. And the angel of God⁸⁵ said, “God has heard the boy crying”⁸⁶ (verse 17). What a picture of our loving heavenly Father, who cares even for those who have been “expelled.” God hears every person who cries out to Him in distress. Furthermore, being excluded from God’s covenant does not mean being excluded from God’s general mercies toward all mankind (Matthew 5:44–45). Indeed, God promised once more that Ishmael would be made into a great nation (verse 18).

The second remarkable event is described in verse 19: Then God opened [Hagar s] eyes, and she saw . . . What did she see? She saw the solution to her problem, the answer to her prayer: a well of water. Was the well not there before? Did God suddenly and miraculously create the well? No, we must assume the well had been there all along. All that was needed was for Hagar’s eyes to be opened.

Is this not an encouraging word for each of us? When we wander into the desert, when we feel that God has abandoned us, when we have lost all hope—then let us look to God and He will open our eyes. He will enable us to see the solution He has already provided, the path He has already prepared. There are amazing resources in our lives—both physical and spiritual—that are available to us if we will only turn to God and let Him open our eyes. Without the illuminating touch of God’s Spirit, we will miss many of His greatest blessings (see Luke 24:30–31).

The Treaty at Beersheba (21:22–34)

22–24 We have already encountered Abimelech in the previous chapter; here we see him making a treaty with Abraham. There are two things to note in this section. First, Abraham was still living in the “promised land” as an alien (verse 23); in fact, he himself never took possession of the land (Hebrews 11:8–9,13). Indeed, the only part of the land Abraham ever possessed was this well of water at Beersheba (verse 25) and a burial plot he later bought for Sarah (Genesis 23:19–20).

Second, according to verse 23, it seems that Abimelech still remembered how Abraham had deceived him concerning Sarah (Genesis 20:2). It takes much time to build up trust; one word of deception can destroy it in minutes.

25–31 Securing water rights was obviously of crucial importance to a herdsman living in a semi-arid land like Canaan; therefore Abraham was happy to give Abimelech sheep and cattle in order to retain uncontested ownership of the well he had dug. The two men sealed their treaty with an oath, and henceforth the place was called Beersheba, which means “well of the oath.”

32–34 In gratitude to God for His continuing mercy, Abraham planted a tree and called upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 12:8). And Abraham continued living in the land of the Philistines⁸⁷ (verse 32). Though for now there was a treaty between Abraham and Abimelech, the Philistine king, centuries later Abraham’s descendants would find the Philistines among their bitterest enemies.