Isaac vs. Ishmael: What Hagar needed to know

As noted in “What Cain didn’t know,” brother-keeping is a theme that builds throughout the Old Testament. It’s a concept that supports the pro-life ethic because brothers are supposed to keep each other in life as well as account to God for their deaths (Genesis 9:5-6). 

Abraham and Lot’s relationship is a good example of brother-keeping. After his younger brother Haran died, Abraham looked after his nephew Lot, seeing him well settled and rescuing him from raiders (Gen. 13:1-14:16). 

There are many bad examples as well–in the accounts of Esau and Jacob, and Joseph and his brothers. A lack of brother-keeping is also evident in the lives of the half-brothers Ishmael and Isaac.

Ishmael and Isaac were sons of different mothers but the same father. Ishmael’s existence as the son of Abraham with Sarah’s maid Hagar added tension to Abraham’s life. First there was tension between the two women and later there was tension between the boys. Their father was unable to create peace without separating the families. This, however, would not be the end of Ishmael’s story.

Pro-life before birth

Although God did not favor Ishmael, He still treated Hagar with kindness before her baby was born. In Genesis 16 we see the following:

• God enabled Hagar to conceive, not Sarai, even though Sarai was Abram’s wife
• God found her after she ran away from Abraham and Sarah
• God told her what she should do (return to Sarah) and how to do it (submit again to Sarah’s authority)
• God’s instructions came with a promise (Hagar would have many descendants)
• God knew she was carrying a son and revealed that information to Hagar
• God gave her son a name that means “God hears”
• God assured her He knew about her afflictions
• God revealed what her unborn son would be like (“a wild donkey of a man”)
• God prophesied Ishmael’s destiny (a lifetime of hostility)

Hagar had been proud of her ability to become pregnant while her mistress could not. This bad attitude led Sarah to abuse her. Think of how hard it would be for Hagar to submit again to her mistress. It would take great humility. 

As a slave, Hagar would have had no choice in the arrangement that led to her child’s conception, but she did have a choice when God confronted her. She chose obedience. 

Hagar’s outlook changed when she realized she too was seen by God. The God of Sarah and Abraham could be her God too, despite her position as a slave and ethnic heritage as an Egyptian.

Pro-life after birth too

By restoring Hagar to Abraham and Sarah, God ensured the care of both mother and child during her pregnancy and beyond. As we see in Genesis 21:1-21, tensions in the family reappeared, but nevertheless God would care for Ishmael well after he was born.

When he was about 14 years old, Ishmael made a mistake similar to his mother’s in Genesis 16. He pridefully taunted the young Isaac, leading to a permanent break in the family. With God’s direction, Abraham drove his son and Hagar away. 

On her own again, Hagar soon came to the end of her resources and seemed to have no plan. Abraham had given them supplies, but they proved insufficient for wandering aimlessly in the wilderness. Hagar despaired until God called to her from heaven. Once again, it’s remarkable to see what God did for them:

• God attended to the boy’s cries
• God encouraged his mother and told her not to be afraid
• God gave her direction and renewed His earlier promise (Ishmael would become a great nation)
• God opened her eyes to see a nearby well 

The text goes on to show how God spared Hagar and Ishmael’s lives and remained with the boy as he grew. He gave Ishmael a home, a profession, and a wife. 

Today we know Isaac as the son of promise from Galatians 4:22-23. God favored him with “an everlasting covenant” but still blessed Ishmael with a promise (Gen. 17:18-21). In Genesis 25:12-18, we see that Ishmael had 12 sons who became princes of 12 tribes–a nation! We also see that the former prophecy of continued hostility between brothers came to pass.

Principles for pro-life ministry

The account of Hagar illustrates the causes and consequences of the helplessness that many pregnant women experience–because they are alone, because their babies' fathers are faithless, foolish, or unfeeling. The children of helpless women often experience hostility through no fault of their own yet even people who are at fault for their predicaments are not exempt from help. Christians can learn to be helpful by following our Lord’s example.

Are God’s providence and promises only for special people in the Bible? No. In the account of Ishmael and Isaac we see His care and concern for the unborn children of outcast, lowly people–even those who are at odds with God’s chosen people and ultimately at odds with God’s plan. Scripture bears out the fact that God sees the misery of helpless pregnant women and hears the cries of the fatherless.

The passages about Isaac, Ishmael, and Hagar also underscore God’s intimate knowledge of unborn children because He is involved in their creation. Men and women contribute to the conception of new human beings, but only God gives new life. And only God knows why a woman in unfavorable circumstances will conceive and another in more favorable circumstances will not. He has a sovereign plan and purpose for each individual.

If we are to keep one another in life and work to prevent the deaths of innocent unborn babies, we need to let pregnant women of all circumstances know God sees them. God’s word is available as a guide to enable them to restore relationships. God will also guide His people to strategies for helping women and children.

Next - Esau & Jacob: Twin-life in the womb

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Image credit: Hagar in the Wilderness, 1835 - Camille Corot - WikiArt.org