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everything, - even his natural paternal affection. And in His tender mercy God once
more made the trial easier, by bestowing the special promise that Ishmael should
become "a nation." Therefore, although Hagar and her son were literally cast forth,
with only the barest necessaries for the journey - water and bread, - this was intended
chiefly in trial of Abraham's faith, and their poverty was only temporary. For, soon
afterwards we read in Scripture, that, before his death, Abraham had enriched his
sons (by Hagar and Keturah) with "gifts;" (Genesis 25:6) and at his burying Ishmael
appears, as an acknowledged son, by the side of Isaac, to perform the last rites of love
to their father. (Genesis 25:9)
Thus "cast out," Hagar and her son wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba,
probably on their way to Egypt. Here they suffered from what has always been the
great danger to travelers in the desert -want of water. The lad's strength failed before
that of his mother. At length her courage and endurance also gave way to utter
exhaustion and despondency. Hitherto she had supported the steps of her son; now
she let him droop "under one of the shrubs," while she went "a good way off," not to
witness his dying agony, yet still remaining within reach of him. To use the pictorial
language of Scripture, "She lift up her voice and wept." Not her cry, however, but
that of Abraham's son went up into the ears of the Lord; and once more was Hagar
directed to a well of water, but this time by an "angel of God," not, as before, by the
"Angel of Jehovah." And now also, to strengthen her for the future, the same
assurance concerning Ishmael was given to Hagar which had previously been made
to Abraham. This promise of God has been abundantly fulfilled. The lad dwelt in that
wide district between Palestine and Mount Horeb, called "the wilderness of Paran,"
which to this day is the undisputed dominion of his descendants, the Bedouin Arabs.
Bitter as the trial had been to "cast out" Ishmael, his son, it was only a preparation for
a far more severe test of Abraham's faith and obedience. For this - the last, the
highest, but also the steepest ascent in Abraham's life of faith - all God's previous
leadings and dealings had been gradually preparing and qualifying him. But even so,
it seems to stand out in Scripture alone and unapproached, like some grand mountain-
peak, which only one climber has ever been called to attain. No, not one; for yet
another and far higher mountain peak, so lofty that its summit reacheth into heaven
itself, has been trodden by the "Seed of Abraham," Who has done all, and far more
than Abraham did, and Who has made that a blessed reality to us which in the
sacrifice of the patriarch was only a symbol. And, no doubt, it was when on Mount
Moriah - the mount of God's true "provision" - Abraham was about to offer up his
son, that, in the language of our blessed Lord (John 8:56), he saw the day of Christ,
"and was glad."
The test, trial, or "temptation" through which Abraham's faith had now to pass, that it
might be wholly purified as "gold in the fire," came in the form of a command from
(^)