Yes — God sent Hagar back to Sarah so Ishmael would be present when Isaac arrived, setting up Paul's allegory of law versus grace.
God had an eternal purpose in the whole thing: Hagar and Ishmael would live under Abraham's tent for about thirteen years before being sent into the wilderness. That historical separation became the living example Paul later used in Galatians, showing that legalism (Ishmael) cannot remain with grace (Isaac).
Genesis 16:9 — This is the direct command God gave Hagar to return to her mistress Sarah.
Galatians 4:22-30 — Paul reveals why God arranged the two sons to overlap and then separate: they are an allegory of law and grace.
According to Genesis 16, after Hagar fled from Sarai, 'the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.' Hagar returned and bore Abram a son, Ishmael. Years later, Isaac was born to Sarah. In Genesis 21, Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac and told Abraham, 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.' God then directed Abraham to listen to Sarah: '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.' The apostle Paul later explains, 'Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.' He then applies the account: 'Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.'
Les explains that God did not send Hagar back simply as a rescue. God told Hagar to go back to Sarah's tent because that is where the family would end up years later. Les says, 'God had an eternal purpose in the whole thing, because that was going to be a living example of a New Testament truth.' Hagar and Ishmael were sent back and then spent some twelve or thirteen years under the roof of Abraham's tent so that Ishmael would be present when Isaac arrived.
Les points to God's instruction for Hagar to return and says the reason is found later: that is where the family would end up years later. God had an eternal purpose in the whole thing — it would be a living example of a New Testament truth. Sending Hagar back kept Ishmael in Abraham's household long enough for Isaac to arrive.
After being sent back, Hagar and Ishmael spent roughly twelve or thirteen years under the roof of Abraham's tent. Genesis 21 then records the crisis: Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac and demanded, 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son.' That long overlapping residence created the biblical picture Paul later used.
Abraham was grieved because he loved Ishmael, but God told him, 'in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.' Les explains that the separation was not just family drama; it pictures the truth that legalism cannot be brought into grace. God did not instruct Abraham to set up a separate little tent next door — Ishmael had to leave the area.
The Allegory of Two Covenants
Les explains that Paul called the account of Hagar and Sarah an allegory, with Hagar representing the covenant of bondage from Mount Sinai and Ishmael picturing the Law.
Ishmael Represents Law; Isaac Represents Grace
Les says God sent Hagar and Ishmael out because Ishmael would not live under the same roof with Isaac, and Paul uses this to show legalism must be sent out.
God's Purpose in Sending Hagar Back
Les says God told Hagar to return to Sarah's tent because that is where the family would end up years later; God had an eternal purpose in making it a living example of New Testament truth.
Thirteen Years Under Abraham's Tent
Les notes that after being sent back, Hagar and Ishmael lived under Abraham's roof for about twelve or thirteen years before Isaac arrived as a lad.
God Confirms Sarah's Demand
Les reads Genesis 21:12, where God tells Abraham to listen to Sarah, because the promised seed would come through Isaac.
Jacob Becomes Israel — What Romans 9 Says About True Faith
But after about 50 years, Abraham got impatient, and he delved back into the pagan customs of using a surrogate mother, and so Sarah really thought of it first, and suggested that they have a son by their slave girl Hagar. And Abraham of course quickly agreed to that, and so from that fleshly idea comes the man Ishmael, again the natural son.
Sarah Sees Ishmael Mocking
Les points to Genesis 21:9-10, where Sarah sees Ishmael mocking and tells Abraham to cast out the bondwoman and her son, setting up the allegory.
Cast Out the Bondwoman and Her Son
Les says God did not permit Ishmael to stay in a nearby tent; the full removal pictures that legalism cannot be brought into grace.
Genesis 16:9: And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
This is the direct command God gave Hagar to return to Sarah.
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's demand to cast out Hagar and Ishmael after Ishmael mocked 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.
God confirmed Sarah's demand because the covenant line would run through Isaac.
Galatians 4:24: Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Paul identifies the Hagar-Sarah account as an allegory of two covenants.
Galatians 4:30: Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.
Paul applies the casting out of Hagar to the need to remove legalism from grace.
God, through His angel, commanded Hagar: 'Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands' (Genesis 16:9). Les explains that God had an eternal purpose in sending her back so the later separation of Ishmael and Isaac could be a living example of law versus grace.
Les says God had an eternal purpose: Hagar and Ishmael needed to be under Abraham's roof for twelve or thirteen years so Ishmael would be present when Isaac came. That nearness made the eventual casting out a vivid picture of why legalism cannot remain with grace.
Les points out that God didn't tell Abraham to build Ishmael a separate little tent next door. Ishmael pictured law and legalism, and Isaac pictured grace. Just as Ishmael was removed, legalism has to be sent out completely; the two cannot coexist.
Watch the Teaching: Why Mixing Law and Grace Cancels the Work of the Cross