Abraham himself got up early and packed a lunch for Hagar and their son Ishmael. We are told that he sent them off, but we are not told what he said to them or what they said to him. We have no recorded conversation between Abraham and Ishmael.
In the wilderness, after the water has run out, Hagar gives up hope. Once more, a messenger from God speaks to her. Before, God had told her to return to Sarah. Not this time. Hagar and Ishmael are no longer dependent on the good will of Sarah. God will take care of them and provide a future for them.
Then God opens her eyes and she sees a well of water.
We don't know if Abraham ever sees Ishmael again. We do know that the two brothers go to his funeral (Genesis 25:7-9).
Bringing this text into our present means considering all the children who have been abandoned by the comfortable. What messenger is God sending to show their protectors where the well is? Consider other ways of being alone--loss of a job, illness, living with addictions. How does God appear in these situations? What is our part in rescue to be?
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