Ishmael: first born son of Abraham

Abraham was married to Sarah his wife and she was barren of children. So Sarah told Abraham to have a child by her handmaiden, Hagar. Now Hagar was an Egyptian woman and She had a son by Abraham who was named Ishmael.Show more

Gen 16:11 And the angel of the LORD said unto (Hagar) her, Behold, thou [art] with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the "LORD hath heard" thy affliction.
Ishmael’s name means the Lord has heard and he was Abraham’s first born son and as a father he greatly loved him.
Abraham asked the Lord to make Ishmael the "promised seed" and the Lord said to Abraham.
Gen 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
Look at this carefully the Lord said he would Bless Ishmael and make him fruitful and multiply him and with 12 princes make of him a great nation. However he was not to be the promised seed. The Arabic nations are blessed with oil and some very good crop growing areas.
Gen 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him. Isaac was the promised seed.
Now the time came that there was friction in the family of Abraham with his having two sons by two different wives. Well let us continue the story
Gen 21:10 Wherefore she (Sarah) said unto Abraham, Cast out this (Hagar) bondwoman and her son: for the son (Ishmael) of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, [even] with Isaac.
Now the Lord allowed Sarah’s words to come to pass.
Gen 21:12 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
So now Hagar and Ishmael were to leave the presence of Abraham,
Yet the Lord was to look after his beloved son. Gen 21:15 starts this part of the story
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 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
Gen 21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against [him] a good way off, as it were a bowshot: 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. 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].
Gen 21:18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
Gen 21:19 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.
Gen 21:20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
Gen 21:21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
So the Lord had mercy on Ishmael and made a promise to Abraham to make of him a great nation and multiply him. The Arab’s claim descent from Ishmael and Abraham. Look at this promise that God made to Abraham.
Gen 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.