His mother took him a wife out of the land of AEgypt— One of her own countrywomen, as was most natural. It appears most likely that Abraham and Ishmael had an intercourse together in future life. Ishmael however, we read, as well as Isaac, took care of the patriarch's funeral.
REFLECTIONS.—Abraham no longer hesitates, when God commands; though parental tenderness might plead, or Hagar's fate appear severe, it is enough for him to hear and obey. Thus he is trained by one exercise of obedience to the severer task preparing for him in Isaac. He gives them provision, and sends them away. Note; Nature may struggle hard, but when God's glory requires, wife and children must be parted with. We have hereupon,
1. Hagar's distress with her son in the wilderness. Her provision exhausted, weary with wandering, fainting with drought, famished with hunger, her poor boy sinks down by her side; while she, unable to relieve his wants, with tenderness, such as mothers feel, aggravated by distress so bitter, with face averted from her dying son, a scene too moving to behold, bursts into a flood of tears, and fills the solitary wilderness with unavailing lamentations. The former promises are all forgotten, and despair of help finishes her wretchedness.
2. Now was God's time of mercy. He who beholds the tears of the miserable, and hears the groans of those who cannot cry to him, oppressed beneath their load of grief too big for utterance, He is near. God's voice is heard; a voice of tender pity, What aileth thee? Arise, lift up the lad. He opens the fountain, dries up her tears, and Ishmael lives; nay more, he is great, grows up under God's care, and begins, in the settlement of his family, to see the fulfilment of the promise. Behold here a lively picture of the faithful soul. (1.) He is brought into the wilderness, his misery overtakes him, no help is near, and nothing but unavoidable death before his eyes. (2.) Then God opens the fountain of mercy in the side of Jesus, and opens his eyes to see it near. (3.) Instantly the heart flies to this relief, and finds life in those waters which Christ alone can give. (4.) From that hour God is with him; and though in the wilderness of the world, he grows under his care, till (5.) he reaps the final blessing promised in the land of bliss and glory everlasting. O! happy are those whose eyes are opened by the Spirit of God, to see the well of living water, the fountain and fulness of grace which is in Christ, where thirsty souls may come and drink, and take their fill.