What did God tell Abraham in Genesis 21:12 about Ishmael and Hagar?
God told Abraham not to be grieved because of the lad Ishmael or because of the bondwoman Hagar, and to hearken to Sarah’s voice, for in Isaac shall Abraham’s seed be called. Ishmael and Hagar were sent out at God’s instruction.
Les explains that in Genesis 21, Ishmael had reached the age of tormenting little Isaac, who was probably five, so Ishmael and Hagar are sent out at God’s instruction. In verse 12 God tells Abraham, “Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad,” and not to be grieved because of the bondwoman. Abraham is told to hearken to Sarah’s voice, for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. Les stresses that the Hebrew word seed, Zerah, is like sheep in English: it can be singular or plural, so the context must determine. Here it is singular, not the many offspring of the twelve tribes, but the seed which was Christ.
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.
More Questions
Why did God tell Abraham to listen to Sarah and send Hagar and Ishmael away?
God instructed Abraham not to be grieved over Ishmael and Hagar, but to listen to Sarah's voice and send them away, because the promised seed would be called through Isaac.