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First posted JULY 28, 2019
“My son, my son…” What would have been the last words Ishmael heard from his father Abraham before his departure with his mother? Maybe words that did not make the situation better. Ishmael, a young lad, is in the wilderness crying and his mother Hagar not to far off. An angel/messenger calls out to his mother and gave her instructions regarding her son for the moment and reassurance about his future. Hagar and Ishmael were at a well which provided sustenance for the harsh landscape. He grew into strong young man, With Elohim looking over him, and eventually got married to an Egyptian woman, of his mother’s choosing most likely from her village of birth. Then the well became the focus of the chapter as it has significance, as Hagar and Ishmael found themselves at that location after their departure. This significance is highlight as Abraham and Abimelech had a meeting concerning the well. The study took a different route in discerning the significance of this meeting and how it connects to his exiled son.
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Daniel & Davene (AKA Team D)
Links from the presentation
Bereshit/Genesis Chapter 21 part 1 – A son is exiled and an oath among men
Supporting News Items
The desert is not an easy place to find oneself for any reason. Despite the potential peril, people make the trek between Mexico and the US to gain access to the promised land seeking a better life:
Many have died making the journey and their plight have become the dominating the US news cycle. Ishmael and Hagar were casted out of Abraham’s tent after the birth of Isaac. With limited provisions, they had to face a harsh wilderness but had reassurances about their future. Given the choice, they would have been happy in the tent of Abraham. Current circumstance gives the impression that theses people must make it to the US to gain the good life. Only depending on YHWH one would gain the good life. Sadly, many of these people do not place their trust in YHWH and thus the woes faced. Put your trust in YHWH and let his word guide your every decision.
Water is life
In a desert land, water is the most valuable resource to sustain life. It is needed for every function of life to survive. Thus, people settle near water sources which in turn encourages the development of settlements.
Agreement among men
The issue of the well was serious enough for both Abraham and Abimelech to make an agreement between other. Abraham put up a specific number of livestock to seal the agreement concerning the well. Abimelech also wanted additional assurance for his future generations and the land upon which they stood. This land is now geopolitically known as Palestine so renamed by the Romans given the historical significance of some of the people that once inhabited the location. In actuality, it should have been renamed Canaan, but let YHWH willbe done.
Strong Hebrew numbers referenced in the presentation
Strong’s Hebrew number for Pharan/“place of caverns”: 6290
Strong’s Hebrew number for The Well of the Oath/ Be᾽er-sheva: 0884
The featured image originates from Black History In The Bible.
