God told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away because Ishmael, the son of the flesh, mocked Isaac, the son of promise, and Ishmael could not share the inheritance with Isaac.
Sarah saw Ishmael mocking her son and demanded that Hagar and Ishmael be cast out, saying the bondwoman's son would not be heir with Isaac. God then told Abraham, 'In all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.' Abraham was grieved because he loved Ishmael, but the covenant promise belonged to Isaac. Les Feldick further explains this as a picture of law being cast out so grace can remain.
Genesis 21:9-12 — This passage records Sarah seeing Ishmael mocking Isaac, her demand to cast out the bondwoman, and God's command for Abraham to obey Sarah because Isaac is the son of promise.
Genesis 17:19 — God had already declared that the covenant would be established with Isaac, not Ishmael, which is why Ishmael could not be heir with Isaac.
In Genesis 21:9-12, the Bible records that Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian mocking her son Isaac. She said to Abraham, 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.' The text says the matter was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of Ishmael. Then God said, '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.' Earlier, in Genesis 17:19, God had told Abraham, '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.' The biblical record also shows that Abraham rose up early and sent Hagar away with bread and water, and God promised that the son of the bondwoman would become a nation because he was Abraham's seed (Genesis 21:13-14).
Les Feldick explains that Ishmael was born as a result of Abraham and Sarah's impatience; Sarah suggested using Hagar as a surrogate mother, and Abraham agreed. He stresses that 'Ishmael is after the flesh. Isaac is the son of promise.' When Ishmael mocked Isaac, God directed Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness. Les points out that God had earlier told Hagar to go back to Sarah's tent, and God knew that thirteen years later He would send Hagar and Ishmael out into the desert — an event with an eternal purpose that would become a living example of a New Testament truth.
Sarah saw the son of Hagar mocking Isaac, and she said to Abraham, 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac' (Genesis 21:9-10). Les adds that Ishmael was tormenting Isaac and making life miserable for him.
The Bible says the matter was very grievous to Abraham because of Ishmael, but God said, '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' (Genesis 21:11-12). Les notes that Abraham loved Ishmael, yet the long-range Abrahamic covenant pointed to a Messiah coming through Isaac.
Les teaches that Paul uses the two sons in Galatians chapter 4: 'Ishmael stood for law and legalism. Isaac stood for grace.' He explains that the two cannot live under the same roof, and just as Ishmael was sent out, legalism must be sent out so grace can remain.
Even while instructing Abraham to cast Ishmael out, God said, 'And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed' (Genesis 21:13). Les also comments that God is not casting off the people of Ishmael as nothing.
Les explains that the Arab world claims to be the true children of Abraham because the Koran puts the covenant promises with Ishmael, while God actually placed them with Isaac. According to Les, this is the conflict in the Middle East yet today.
Abraham, Sarah, and the Allegory of Law vs. Grace | Genesis 20-21
Verse 3, "...and Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare." Now this is the way it happened, and they called him Isaac. Verse 4, "...according to the covenant now that God had instructed in previous chapters, Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
Flesh vs. Promise and the Middle East
Les teaches that Ishmael came from Abraham's impatience and the flesh, and that the Arab world's claim to Abraham through Ishmael is the root of today's Middle East conflict.
Ishmael Mocks Isaac and Is Cast Out
Les walks through Genesis 21:9-12, noting Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac and that God told Abraham, even though he loved Ishmael, to hearken to Sarah because the covenant promise was with Isaac.
God's Earlier Command to Hagar
Les recounts how God sent Hagar back to Sarah's tent, and explains that God already knew that thirteen years later Hagar and Ishmael would be sent out into the desert.
Ishmael Harasses Isaac
Les asks what Ishmael was doing to Isaac — making life miserable — and explains that God told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael out because Ishmael could not live under the same roof with the son of promise.
Ishmael After the Flesh
Les emphasizes that Ishmael was born after the energy of the flesh while Isaac was the son of promise, a distinction that carries all the way through Scripture.
Law vs. Grace Allegory
Les explains Paul's Galatians 4 allegory: Ishmael represents law/legalism, Isaac represents grace, and legalism must be cast out just as Ishmael was sent away.
God's Covenant with Isaac
Les reminds us that when Abraham prayed for Ishmael, God said the covenant would be established with Isaac, but God was not casting off the people of Ishmael as nothing.
Genesis 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.
God's earlier announcement shows that Isaac, not Ishmael, was the covenant son.
Genesis 21:9: And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
This is the moment that triggered Sarah's demand to cast out Hagar and Ishmael.
Genesis 21:10: 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.
Sarah states the reason Ishmael must go: he will not be heir with Isaac.
Genesis 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.
This is God's direct instruction to Abraham to obey Sarah.
Genesis 21:13: And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
God immediately reassures Abraham that Ishmael will still become a nation.
Because Ishmael mocked Isaac, the son of promise, and Sarah declared that the bondwoman's son should not be heir with Isaac. God confirmed Sarah's words and told Abraham to obey her, since the covenant seed would be called through Isaac.
No. The Bible says the matter was very grievous in Abraham's sight because he loved Ishmael. God had to tell Abraham not to let his grief prevent him from obeying Sarah.
Les Feldick explains that Ishmael stands for law and legalism, while Isaac stands for grace. Just as Ishmael was cast out, legalism must be sent out so grace can remain.
Yes. God promised Abraham, 'And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed' (Genesis 21:13). Les notes that God was not casting off the people of Ishmael as nothing.
Watch the Teaching: Abraham, Sarah, and the Allegory of Law vs. Grace | Genesis 20-21