Hagar and Ishmael Story - Bible

Abraham and Sarah had waited many years for God to give them a son. But Sarah could not have children. She was getting very old. Sarah had a servant from Egypt named Hagar.

Sarah said to Abraham, 'The Lord has kept me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant Hagar. Maybe I can build a family through her.'

Abraham agreed to what Sarah said. So Abraham slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to look down on her mistress Sarah.

Sarah said to Abraham, 'This is your fault! I put my servant in your arms. Now that she knows she is pregnant, she looks down on me. May the Lord judge between you and me.'

Abraham answered, 'Your servant is in your hands. Do with her whatever you think is best.' So Sarah treated Hagar badly. Hagar ran away from Sarah.

The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert. The angel said, 'Hagar, servant of Sarah, where have you come from? Where are you going?'

Hagar said, 'I am running away from my mistress Sarah.'

The angel of the Lord told her, 'Go back to your mistress. Obey her.' The angel also said, 'I will greatly increase your descendants. They will be too many to count.'

The angel added, 'You are now pregnant. You will have a son. You will name him Ishmael, which means 'God hears.' The Lord has heard your crying. Your son will be like a wild donkey. He will fight with everyone, and everyone will fight with him. He will live in hostility toward all his brothers.'

Hagar gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me.' She said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me.' That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi, which means 'well of the Living One who sees me.'

Hagar went back to Abraham and Sarah. She had her baby boy. Abraham named him Ishmael. Abraham was eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born.

Years later, God kept His promise to Sarah. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Abraham named him Isaac. Sarah said, 'God has brought me laughter. Everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.'

When Isaac grew older, Sarah saw Ishmael making fun of Isaac. She said to Abraham, 'Get rid of that slave woman and her son. That slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.'

Abraham was very upset because Ishmael was also his son. But God said to Abraham, 'Do not be upset. Do whatever Sarah tells you. It is through Isaac that your family will be named. I will also make the son of the slave woman into a nation. He is your offspring too.'

Early the next morning, Abraham got some food and a bottle of water. He gave them to Hagar. He put the boy on her shoulder and sent her away. She went off and wandered in the desert of Beersheba.

When the water in the bottle was gone, Hagar put the boy under a bush. She went away and sat down about as far as a bowshot can reach. She said, 'I cannot watch the boy die.' She sat there and began to cry loudly.

God heard the boy crying. The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. He said, 'What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid. God has heard the boy crying. Lift the boy up. Take him by the hand. I will make him into a great nation.'

Then God opened Hagar's eyes. She saw a well of water. She went and filled the bottle with water. She gave the boy a drink.

God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. He became the father of twelve sons who became twelve tribes. God kept His promise to Hagar. He saw her tears and heard her cries. He is the God who sees us.

The Hagar and Ishmael story teaches God’s care for the outcast. It shows God’s guidance and protection. This story highlights faith and survival.